How much ferritin is normal? The natural ferritin level in the body is directly related to iron levels, and without enough iron in the body, red blood cells will not be able to supply the body with enough oxygen. It has several risks.
What is ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, which is necessary to build red blood cells, which in turn transport oxygen to parts of the body, and other parts of the body need iron such as muscles, bones, and liver, and a low-level ferritin leads to anemia, caused by iron deficiency, this means that The number of red blood cells has decreased, and the reason that leads to iron deficiency is poor nutrition, loss of a large amount of blood, or the body suffering from a problem absorbing iron from food, on the other hand, a high level of ferritin can damage joints, heart, liver, and pancreas, An excess of iron above its normal levels is most often caused by a genetic disease called hemochromatosis, and most people with this disease do not suffer from any symptoms, especially women who lose a quantity of blood during menstruation, and from the symptoms of an excess of iron in the body, Pain in the joints and abdomen at the age of twenty or thirty.
How much ferritin is normal in the body?
The normal ferritin level varies according to age, sex, medical history, the method used for the test, and other things. When a test is performed to examine the ferritin level, it must be presented to a specialist doctor to find out what the results of the examination mean, and the normal ferritin percentage according to age as follows:
20 to 250 ng/ml for adult males.
10 to 120 ng/ml for adult females, 18 to 39 years old.
12 to 263 ng/ml for females, 40 years and older.
25 to 200 ng/ml for newborns.
200 to 600 ng/ml at 1 month of age.
50 to 200 ng/ml at 2 to 5 months of age.
7 to 140 ng/ml for children 6 months to 15 years old.
If the percentage of ferritin is less than that, the person suffers from anemia, caused by iron deficiency, and the low percentage of iron in the body may be caused by taking some medications, as antacids can prevent the absorption of iron from food, and antacids can also cause For infections, blood loss in the digestive system. If the ferritin level is higher than normal, the person may be suffering from hyperthyroidism, hemochromatosis, liver problems, or inflammatory diseases.
What are the symptoms of an excess or deficiency of ferritin than its normal rate?
The deficiency or excess of ferritin from its normal levels results in some symptoms, which are as follows [2] :
Symptoms of low ferritin levels
The most prominent symptoms caused by a deficiency of ferritin levels below its normal range are:
Tiredness from any slight effort.
dizziness;
Chronic headache.
General fatigue for no real reason.
ringing in the ear
Leg pain.
Symptoms of high ferritin levels
The most prominent symptoms caused by an elevated ferritin level above its normal range are:
stomach pain.
Heart palpitations or chest pain.
General fatigue for no real reason.
Joint pain.
Tiredness when making any slight effort.
How is a ferritin test performed?
The ferritin test requires a small amount of blood, and the doctor may ask not to eat for 12 hours before the blood is drawn so that the results are more accurate, so the early morning is the most appropriate time to take a blood sample, and when conducting the examination, the specialist places a strap around the person’s arm, to make the veins stand out more clearly, after which the specialist wipes the place of blood withdrawal with a disinfected piece of cotton, then inserts a small needle into the vein to withdraw the sample, and then sends it to the laboratory for analysis, and showing the results.
What are the reasons for the deficiency of ferritin in the body?
The reasons for the lack of ferritin in the body, which results in low levels of iron in the blood, including the following :
Loss of large amounts of blood, as blood loss leads to iron deficiency, and women are particularly affected by this problem, as a result of the heavy menstrual cycle.
Slow and chronic blood loss from inside the body, resulting from some diseases such as peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, colon tumor, or colorectal cancer.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a result of excessive intake of some over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin.
Iron deficiency in the diet. When the body does not get enough iron from the diet, it will suffer from a deficiency of ferritin over time. Iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and iron-fortified foods.
The inability of the body to absorb iron is caused by some intestinal disorders, such as celiac disease, which affects the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients from food.
Pregnancy without taking nutritional supplements, because pregnancy may lead to iron deficiency in many pregnant women, and pregnant women must take nutritional supplements rich in iron to compensate for the deficiency that occurs during pregnancy.
How much ferritin is normal? At the end of our article, we hope that we have provided an adequate answer to the question of how much the natural ferritin percentage, and when feeling symptoms of deficiency or excess of ferritin from its normal levels, a blood test should be performed to confirm this, and consult a doctor after the result appears.
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