What is ferritin?

Ferritin on your report

Usually shown in ng/mL, with your lab's own normal range printed beside it. Because inflammation can raise ferritin even when iron is low, your doctor may read it with your haemoglobin and CRP.

What ferritin tells your doctor

Ferritin often falls before your haemoglobin does, so a low result can catch iron deficiency early, before full anaemia.

Low iron stores can leave you:

• tired
• breathless
• with hair fall
• with poor concentration

They are common in women because of periods, pregnancy and diets low in iron.

High ferritin can come from too much iron, but also from inflammation, infection, liver disease or obesity, so it needs a doctor's view.

What moves your ferritin

To build iron stores, eat iron-rich foods often:

• green leafy sabzis like palak and bathua
• rajma, chana and dals
• ragi
• eggs, chicken or fish if you eat them

Add vitamin C from lemon, amla or guava to the same meal to help absorption, and keep chai and coffee away from meal times, as they block iron.

If your doctor prescribes iron, follow their advice on how to take it.