Ferritin is a blood protein that stores iron. Think of your body as a kitchen pantry. Most of the pantry is filled with food that you consume every day. But there are some things you keep in there for the long haul—an extra box of pasta or can of beans to have on hand when supplies run low.
Your body also stores iron. He uses part of the iron that he immediately gets with food to produce oxygen in the blood. But it also has some iron on hand for when you don't get enough from the food you eat. Iron is stored in a protein called ferritin. To find out how much of it is in your body, your doctor may order a ferritin blood test. Ferritin is normal. "Normal" levels can vary slightly from lab to lab, so a person should clarify what "normal" means with their doctor. One source lists the ranges for normal ferritin levels as follows: How to lower high ferritin levels. A person with high ferritin levels may have high iron levels. Treatment for high iron levels depends on the underlying cause. Treatment for iron overload disorders such as primary hemochromatosis usually involves phlebotomy. This is a regular procedure to remove iron-rich blood from the body. The amount of blood your doctor removes and how often it is removed will depend on factors such as the person's age, health, and ferritin levels. Sometimes doctors use iron chelation therapy. This includes oral or injected medicine that removes excess iron from the body. Iron chelation therapy is not usually a first-line treatment option for hemochromatosis. However, it may work for some people. People with other conditions that cause high ferritin levels may need additional or different treatments. When a person has low ferritin levels. Ferritin deficiency is determined much more often than its excess. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 42 percent children under 5 and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. This means you have too little ferritin or iron. If a person has low ferritin or low iron, their doctor must first assess how severe the deficiency is and determine the underlying cause. Treatment and self-monitoring Ferritin or iron deficiency is usually treated in two ways, i.e. increasing iron intake and treating any underlying conditions. Doctors may recommend iron supplements to help adjust iron intake levels. Supplements are often available without a prescription. It is important to take supplements as directed. This is because too much iron can be toxic and damage the liver. Also, high levels of iron can cause constipation. As a result, your doctor may prescribe stool softeners or laxatives to make bowel movements easier. If an underlying disease is identified, further treatment may be necessary. Treatment for underlying conditions will depend on the problem, but may include additional medications, antibiotics, or surgery. Self-management includes including more iron and vitamin C in the daily diet regardless of the cause of ferritin or iron deficiency. Foods rich in iron include beans, red meat, dried fruit, iron-fortified cereals and peas. Some foods that contain iron include: lean red meat, oysters, lentils, beans and tofu, raisins, eggs, dark leafy greens including spinach, kale and broccoli. Whether a person chooses to self-medicate or follow the doctor's recommendations, it is important to remember that iron deficiency correction takes a long time. Symptoms may improve after a week of treatment, but it may take several months or longer for blood iron levels to increase. It is always recommended to adjust your diet to include more iron-rich foods. Some foods and drinks can affect iron absorption. For example, supplements and foods rich in vitamin C can help improve iron absorption. However, the tannic acid in tea can make iron absorption more difficult. Phytates in some legumes can also reduce iron absorption. Therefore, iron preparations are better in case of ferritin or iron deficiency. Your doctor may recommend iron supplements to increase your ferritin levels. People can take oral iron supplements at home. However, they should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. In severe cases of anaemia, they may need to be treated with intravenous iron. After repeated blood tests, if the level does not return to the accepted normal range, the doctor may recommend more tests to determine the cause of the deficiency or suggest a different treatment plan. Iron preparations How to choose iron preparations. For oral iron therapy to effectively correct iron deficiency, patients must receive an adequate dose of elemental iron. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 50 to 60 mg of elemental iron twice daily for three months for the treatment of ferritin or iron deficiency. There are countless iron preparations. Iron preparations are available with various amounts of iron, including iron salts and their combinations. They can be in the form of regular tablets and capsules, liquid forms such as drops, syrups, etc. The most commonly available oral iron preparations are ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous fumarate. All three forms are well absorbed, but differ in the amount of elemental iron. For example: Ferrous Sulphate - Contains 20% elemental iron, Ferrous Gluconate - Contains 12% elemental iron, Ferrous Fumarate - Contains 33% elemental iron. Polysaccharide-iron complex - Contains 46% elemental iron. The chart of iron products above helps you calculate the amount of elemental iron. Therefore, 325 mg of ferrous sulfate actually yields 65 mg of elemental iron (i.e. 325 mg * 0.20 = 65 mg of elemental iron). Not all iron salts contain the same amount of iron per dose. This means that different iron salts will require different dosage regimens to meet your doctor's recommendations. It is important to note that even iron preparations containing the same amount of elemental iron may not necessarily be equivalent in effectiveness. For example, ferrous bisglycinate chelate is better absorbed than ferrous sulfate. Several studies have shown that ferrous bisglycinate chelate, even though it contains the same elemental content as ferrous sulfate, increases blood iron levels more than ferrous sulfate products. Oral iron supplements must dissolve quickly in the stomach so that the iron can be absorbed in the duodenum or upper jejunum. Enteric-coated formulations and long-acting supplements may not be effective because they do not dissolve in the stomach. Peculiarities of using iron preparations. Although high-dose iron preparations are available, the body absorbs iron better when taken in smaller doses several times a day. Recent research suggests that lower doses of iron supplements are preferred over high doses in non-emergency situations to avoid iron overload and tolerance problems. Your doctor may recommend starting with a lower dose of an iron supplement and gradually increasing the dose to the level needed to minimize side effects. Look for supplements that allow you to take smaller doses per day that still meet your recommended daily intake. In terms of absorption, iron supplements are generally best taken on an empty stomach (if tolerated) or with food. Iron supplements are often taken with food to reduce side effects. However, dietary intake can reduce iron absorption by 40 to 66%. Therefore, it is recommended to take iron supplements with food rich in vitamin C to improve iron absorption. On the other hand, you should avoid certain foods and beverages while taking iron supplements. Tea, coffee, milk, antacids, or calcium supplements can reduce iron absorption, so these foods should be avoided for an hour before and after taking it. In addition to improving iron absorption, ascorbic acid (Vit C) can reverse the inhibitory effects of substances such as tea and calcium on iron absorption. The absorption of iron preparations can be worsened by the use of some medicines, so consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking iron preparations. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ferritin-blood-test https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318096#Treatment-and-self-management
