Abnormal ferritin levels do not necessarily mean that there is a serious problem – diet and drugs can sometimes influence test results. For example, tannins (natural plant compounds) in coffee, wine and black tea can block iron absorption in the body, which could lead to lower ferritin levels.
Likewise, drugs used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (a chronic disease that occurs when gastric acid rises in esophagus) can cause small levels of ferritin when taken in the long term, explains Odogwu.
But there may be other reasons why your ferritin test results can be abnormal. “Ferritin levels must be interpreted by a health professional, such as your primary care doctor or a hematologist, because the context is important,” said Dr Metheny.
Here’s why your ferritin can be too low or high, and how to return to the normal beach.
Normal ferritin levels
Women: 30 to 150 nanograms (de) per liter (l)
Men: 30 to 300 NG / L
Although the ranges of ferritin above are ideal for most people, there are no universally accepted “normal” and ferritin beaches vary depending on the laboratories. “Some laboratories always report levels of less than 30 as usual,” explains Odogwu. “This can cause people with iron without appropriate treatment.”
It is best to have your results interpreted by your health care provider in the context of your global health and your medical history.
Low ferritin levels
Anyone: Less than 30 ng / l (although this can vary depending on the laboratory and how the results are interpreted)
If your ferritin levels are low, you may experience the following symptoms:
Fatigue
Quick heart rate
Dizziness
Unusually pale skin
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Depending on the method, the causes of low ferritin levels may include:
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Iron deficiency
Give blood
Intestinal conditions that inhibit iron absorption (like Crohn’s disease)
When not treated, low ferritin can cause health problems, such as agitated legs syndrome (SJS, a neurological disorder that causes a desire to move the legs to rest). Although the causes of SJS are not well understood, it is believed that low levels of dopamine, a brain chemical which is used to regulate movement, can contribute. As iron plays a role in creating dopamine, a deficiency can increase your risk of SJS.
Low ferritin can also cause a PICA, a mental health that involves searching for non -food articles, such as dirt or paper. Some researchers hypothesize that people are sought of non-alive to compensate for deficiencies in specific minerals, including iron, zinc and calcium.
As iron plays a vital role in immune health, chronic deficiency can also increase your risk of infection and illness.
Low ferritin levels are generally treated with an oral iron supplement, says Odogwu. Often, in doses of 150 to 200 mg per day. But people with problems or intestinal diseases that affect the absorption of iron may require intravenously issued iron by an IV.
High ferritin levels
Women: More than 200 ng / l
Men: More than 400 ng / l
If you have high ferritin levels, you can live:
Joint pain
Abdominal discomfort
Loss
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Loss of libido
Irregular heart riat (arrhythmia)
High levels of ferritin can have several causes, explains Metheny. These include:
Inflammation in the body
Too much red meat
Hemochromatosis
Overward of iron supplements
High levels of ferritin and iron can cause complications if they are not treated, explains Odogwu. These include:
Diabetes
Liver fibrosis
Liver cirrhosis
Muscle anomalies of the heart
Joint anomalies
Increased risk of liver cancer
If iron overload is the cause of your high ferritin levels, the treatment will involve eliminating 500 milliliters (ML) of the body of the body once a week until iron levels return to the normal beach, says Odogwu. Once ferritine levels reach 50 to 100 NG / L, people with hemochromatosis receive blood samples every three months to maintain healthy ferritin levels, she notes. But some people can only do this only two or three times a year.
Interestingly, some people who receive blood transfusions to treat certain types of anemia may develop secondary hemochromatosis (a condition where excessive iron accumulates due to treatments rather than genetics). In this case, the abolition of blood is not an appropriate treatment. Doctors will rather prescribe a chelating agent or a medication that binds to iron and allows you to pass excessive quantities through urine.
Make sure to discuss your test results with your doctor, as well as the best processing options for your individual needs.
