Ferritin laboratory value – too high or too low?
Have you received your ferritin lab result? Is your value too high or too low? Discuss your lab results directly with an online doctor via TeleClinic. The costs are covered by all health insurance companies and insurers.
Here you can find out what the ferritin value tells you, which values are normal and what deviations indicate.
Abstract
- Ferritin is the most important iron store in the human body.
- The normal values vary greatly depending on age and gender.
- A low ferritin value indicates an iron deficiency.
- Too high ferritin levels can be an indication of anemia.
- Pregnant women are more prone to iron deficiency, as the need for iron is increased during pregnancy.
What is ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. It is the body’s most important iron store and can store around 4000 iron molecules. This protects the cells from the toxic effects of free iron.
The ferritin value is determined if anemia is suspected and is obtained from the blood serum or plasma.
What are standard values?
The following values are for guidance only. The results may vary between different laboratories. You should therefore always discuss your results with a doctor.
| Age | Lower limit (in µg/l) | Upper limit (µg/l) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 1st month | 144 | 400 |
| 2nd month | 87 | 430 | |
| 4th month | 37 | 223 | |
| 6. month to 15 years | 7 | 142 | |
| Women | 16 to 50 years | 22 | 112 |
| Over 50 years | 13 | 600 | |
| Men | 16 to 50 years | 34 | 310 |
| Over 50 years | 5 | 665 |
During pregnancy, the iron requirement is increased, which can lead to a lower ferritin value.
In which cases is the value determined?
- If iron deficiency is suspected
- For people with an increased risk of iron deficiency:
- Pregnant women
- Blood donor
- Dialysis patients
- Vegetarian
- In case of suspected iron overload
- For control during therapies with iron supplements
What do low ferritin levels mean?
A low ferritin value indicates an iron deficiency, which can have various causes.
- Diseases that prevent iron absorption (sprue, Crohn’s disease)
- Malnutrition (in the case of alcoholism or a vegan diet)
- Increased iron requirement, e.g. during pregnancy, breastfeeding and the growth phase
- Iron loss due to e.g. menstrual bleeding, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, blood donations, blood loss via the urinary tract
- Transferrin deficiency, e.g. in certain kidney diseases or severe burns
What do high ferritin levels mean?
Too high ferritin values can have various causes:
- Iron storage disease (hemochromatosis)
- Iron overload
- Iron distribution disorders due to:
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis),
- Various infections
- Tumors
- Renal failure with urinary intoxication (uremia)
- Liver damage
- Premature breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis)
- Iron utilization disorder
- Anemia
- Folic acid or vitamin B21 deficiency
- Hemoglobinopathies (diseases with disorders of hemoglobin formation)
Other causes of high ferritin levels can be overdoses of iron supplements or frequent blood transfusions.
Sources
- https://www.internisten-im-netz.de/mediathek/blutbild-erklaerung/ferritin.html
- https://www.netdoktor.de/Diagnostik+Behandlungen/Laborwerte/Ferritin-1208.html
- http://www.laborlexikon.de/Lexikon/Infoframe/f/Ferritin.htm
- https://www.apotheken-umschau.de/laborwerte/ferritin
Fabian Bohn
- Zuletzt aktualisiert: 10. December 2025
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