HealthMap

Serum Ferritin and Body Iron Reserves

• Primary Storage Protein: Ferritin is the main intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion.
• Diagnostic Limitations: While a serum ferritin test is widely used as an indicator of available iron stores, it does not always provide a reliable measure of total body iron reserves.
• Inflammatory Interference: Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant, meaning its blood levels can become artificially elevated in the presence of:
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Liver stress or damage
• Tissue injury
• False Normal or High Readings: Due to these inflammatory responses, a person with actual iron deficiency or depletion can still present with normal or even high serum ferritin levels.
• Comprehensive Evaluation: To accurately assess true iron status and mineral balance, testing should not rely on serum ferritin alone, but should be evaluated alongside other clinical markers and symptoms.