Ferritin Levels — Should You Get Yours Tested?
Health ConditionsGeneral Health

Ferritin Levels: What They Are and When to Get Yours Tested

Ferritin Levels: What They Are and When to Get Yours Tested
Stefan Amer/iStock
By
Cheyenne Buckingham
Published on September 19, 2025
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Ferritin is a protein that stores and releases iron (a mineral) in the body. A ferritin test measures how much of this protein is in your blood, helping diagnose health conditions caused by too much or too little iron.

Learn why ferritin levels matter for overall health, plus when to get yours tested, and how to understand the results.

What Is Ferritin?

Ferritin’s primary job is to regulate iron levels in your body, says Cynthia Odogwu, MD, a family and lifestyle medicine physician in private practice in Bowie, Maryland. Iron is an essential mineral your body needs to produce hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Ferritin attaches to iron in the bloodstream and stores it in your liver and immune system cells for when you need it most.

 When iron levels drop, ferritin releases the mineral into the bloodstream to compensate; when iron levels are high, ferritin pulls it back into cells to store for later use. “In doing so, it helps protect cells from damage caused by excess iron and supports the production of new red blood cells,” Dr. Odogwu says.
Men need 8 milligrams (mg) of iron per day, while women ages 19 to 50 need 18 mg per day, and then 8 mg after age 50. While most healthy people in the United States obtain these amounts through their diet, a ferritin test can identify individuals with deficiencies and excess levels.

What Is a Ferritin Test?

A ferritin test is a blood test that helps determine whether your body contains an adequate amount of iron, as having too much or too little iron can cause health issues.

“For optimal results, it’s best to avoid eating and drinking for 12 hours before the blood test, as iron levels can vary based on food intake,” says Odogwu. But this isn’t always necessary, so be sure to ask your provider for specific instructions.

A ferritin test can be done at a clinic or hospital. A phlebotomist (a healthcare provider who specializes in drawing blood), nurse, or other healthcare professional will insert a small needle into a vein in your arm and collect a small amount of blood into a vial.

 The blood sample is then sent to a lab for analysis. It can typically take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours for the results to come back, Odogwu says.
As with any blood draw, you may experience mild pain and bruising where the needle was inserted. But symptoms typically resolve quickly.

What Is a Ferritin Test Used For?

Ferritin tests are often used to diagnose health conditions related to abnormal iron levels.

Your provider may order the test if you notice symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, a condition in which insufficient iron leads to a shortage of red blood cells, causing concerns, such as:

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Pale skin
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Dizziness
  • Cold hands and feet

The ferritin test can also screen for high iron levels. “If ferritin is elevated, it could point to a genetic condition called hereditary hemochromatosis,” says Odogwu. People with hereditary hemochromatosis absorb too much iron from food, with excess iron stored in the liver, heart, and pancreas. Over time, too much iron can lead to liver disease, diabetes, and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Your provider may use a ferritin test to diagnose hemochromatosis if you have early symptoms, such as:

  • Joint pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Low libido

Your provider may also order a test if you have certain health conditions, which could increase the likelihood of having low or high ferritin levels. According to Leland Metheny, MD, a hematologist at the Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals Cleveland and an associate professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio, these include:

What Your Ferritin Test Results Mean

Abnormal ferritin levels don’t necessarily mean there’s a serious problem — diet and medications can sometimes influence test results. For instance, the tannins (naturally occurring plant compounds) in coffee, wine, and black tea can block iron absorption in the body, which could lead to lower ferritin levels.

Similarly, medications used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (a chronic condition that occurs when stomach acid rises into the esophagus) can lead to low ferritin levels when taken long term, says Odogwu.

But there may be other reasons your ferritin test results may be abnormal. "Ferritin levels should be interpreted by a medical professional, such as your primary care physician or a hematologist, as context is important," Dr. Metheny says.

Here’s why your ferritin may be too low or high, and how to get back in the normal range.

Normal Ferritin Levels

Women: 30 to 150 nanograms (ng) per liter (L)

Men: 30 to 300 ng/L

While the above ferritin ranges are ideal for most people, there is no universally accepted “normal,” and ferritin reference ranges vary among laboratories. “Some labs still report levels below 30 as normal,” says Odogwu. “This may cause people with iron deficiency to suffer without proper treatment.”

It’s best to have your results interpreted by your healthcare provider in the context of your overall health and medical history.

Low Ferritin Levels

Anyone: Less than 30 ng/L (though this can vary depending on the lab and how the results are interpreted)

If your ferritin levels are low, you may experience the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Dizziness
  • Unusually pale skin
  • Weakness
  • Shortness of breath

According to Metheny, causes of low ferritin levels may include:

  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Iron deficiency
  • Donating blood frequently
  • Intestinal conditions that inhibit the absorption of iron (such as Crohn’s disease)
When left untreated, low ferritin can lead to health conditions, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS, a neurological disorder that causes an urge to move the legs when at rest). While causes of RLS aren’t well understood, it’s thought that low levels of dopamine, a brain chemical that’s used to regulate movement, may contribute.

 As iron plays a role in creating dopamine, a deficiency may increase your risk of RLS.

Low ferritin can also cause pica, a mental health condition that involves craving nonfood items, such as dirt or paper. Some researchers hypothesize that people crave nonfoods to compensate for deficiencies in specific minerals, including iron, zinc, and calcium.

As iron plays a vital role in immune health, a chronic deficiency can also increase your risk of infection and illness.

Low ferritin levels are typically treated with an oral iron supplement, Odogwu says. Often, in doses of 150 to 200 mg per day.

 But people with intestinal issues or diseases that affect iron absorption may need iron delivered intravenously through an IV.

High Ferritin Levels

Women: More than 200 ng/L

Men: More than 400 ng/L

If you have high ferritin levels, you may experience:

  • Joint pain
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Hair loss
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Loss of libido
  • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

High ferritin levels can have several causes, says Metheny. These include:

  • Inflammation in the body
  • Too much red meat
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Overuse of iron supplements
High ferritin and iron levels can cause complications if left untreated, says Odogwu. These include:

  • Diabetes
  • Liver fibrosis
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Heart muscle abnormalities
  • Joint abnormalities
  • Increased risk of liver cancer
If iron overload is the cause of your high ferritin levels, treatment will involve removing 500 milliliters (ml) of blood from the body once a week until iron levels return to normal range, Odogwu says. Once ferritin levels reach 50 to 100 ng/L, people with hemochromatosis receive blood draws every three months to maintain healthy ferritin levels, she notes. But some people may only need to do this 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 builds up due to treatments rather than genetics). In this case, removing blood isn’t an appropriate treatment. Doctors will instead prescribe a chelating agent, or a medicine that binds to iron and enables you to pass any excess amounts through urine.

Be sure to discuss your test results with your doctor, as well as the best treatment options for your individual needs.

The Takeaway

  • A ferritin test is a blood analysis that’s used to help assess iron levels in the body.
  • When ferritin levels are abnormal, they can increase your risk for various side effects and health conditions, like restless legs syndrome if too low, or diabetes if too high.
  • There are many reasons why your ferritin levels might be high or low; it’s important for a physician to review your results in the context of your overall health history, and plan treatment accordingly.
  • Treatment options range from iron supplementation, if too low, to blood removal and monitoring, if too high.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Iron. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. August 17, 2023.
  2. Ferritin Test. Cleveland Clinic. May 17, 2022.
  3. Ferritin Blood Test. MedlinePlus. March 18, 2025.
  4. Hemochromatosis. Mayo Clinic. January 9, 2025.
  5. Sung ES et al. Association of Coffee and Tea With Ferritin: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (IV and V). Chonnam Medical Journal. September 2018.
  6. Restless Legs Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. September 11, 2023.
  7. Li YS et al. Association of Low Serum Ferritin Levels With Augmentation in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sleep Medicine. December 2023.
  8. Ganesan PR et al. The Association Between Pica and Iron-Deficiency Anemia: A Scoping Review. Cureus. April 20, 2023.
  9. Jonker FAM et al. Anaemia, Iron Deficiency and Susceptibility to Infections. Journal of Infection. November 2014.
  10. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. American Society of Hematology.
  11. Hemochromatosis. Mayo Clinic. January 9, 2025.
  12. Treatment of Hemochromatosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. January 2020.
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Allison Buttarazzi, MD

Allison Buttarazzi, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Allison Buttarazzi, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, and is a certified health and well-being coach. In her primary care practice, Dr. Buttarazzi focuses on lifestyle medicine to help her patients improve their health and longevity, and her passion is helping patients prevent and reverse chronic diseases (like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes) by improving their lifestyle habits.

She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and completed a residency at Maine Medical Center. Diagnosed with celiac disease during medical school, she realized the power of improving one's health through diet and lifestyle habits, which she later incorporated into her practice.

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Cheyenne Buckingham

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