If you’ve recently had blood work and been told your ferritin is low, you may be wondering what that actually means and what you should do about it.
Ferritin reflects the amount of iron stored in your body. Low ferritin can indicate depleted iron stores, sometimes before iron-deficiency anemia develops. For women dealing with persistent fatigue, hair shedding, headaches, dizziness, brain fog or reduced stamina, low ferritin may be one piece of the puzzle.
The bigger question is why your ferritin is low in the first place. That’s where a more comprehensive assessment can be helpful.
What Does a Low Ferritin Level Mean?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and provides an indication of your body’s iron reserves. Your ferritin level is usually considered alongside other blood work, your symptoms and your health history.
It is possible to have depleted iron stores without having anemia. This means that if you’re feeling exhausted but your blood work shows that your hemoglobin is still within range, iron status may still be worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
A lab result can tell you that your ferritin is low; a clinical assessment helps determine why it is low, whether it may explain how you feel, and what to do next.
At Kleinburg Integrative Health, blood work and symptoms are considered together rather than looking at one result in isolation.
Could Low Ferritin Be Causing Your Fatigue?
Low ferritin may be associated with symptoms such as:
- Fatigue and low energy
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Headaches or dizziness
- Reduced stamina or exercise tolerance
- Hair shedding
- Restless legs
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath with activity
These symptoms can have many possible causes. Thyroid concerns, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, sleep problems and other health factors can produce similar symptoms.
Particularly for women, understanding iron status may also involve looking at menstrual history, thyroid function and hormonal changes, depending on the individual.
If you’re constantly tired and don’t know why, simply taking an iron supplement may not address the underlying reason you feel unwell.
Why Is My Ferritin Low?
There isn’t one explanation for low ferritin.
For women, menstrual blood loss is a common contributor, particularly when periods are heavy or prolonged. Increased iron requirements during pregnancy can also contribute to depleted iron stores.
Dietary intake, absorption through the digestive tract and ongoing blood loss may also play a role. If your ferritin stays low despite taking oral iron, that is another reason to look more closely at what may be contributing to the deficiency.
A naturopathic assessment can help put these pieces together by looking at your symptoms, diet, lifestyle, health history and relevant laboratory results.
Do You Need Iron Supplements or an Iron Infusion?
That depends on the individual and the reason for the iron deficiency.
Some people may benefit from dietary changes or oral iron supplementation. Others may have difficulty tolerating oral iron or may not see their iron levels improve sufficiently.
At Kleinburg Integrative Health, an iron infusion is not recommended based on a ferritin number alone. A healthcare provider reviews your medical history, symptoms, recent blood work and iron levels to determine whether intravenous iron is appropriate.
When clinically appropriate, iron infusion therapy delivers iron directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. This can be an effective option when oral iron is insufficient or poorly tolerated.
What Should You Do If Your Ferritin Is Low?
If you’ve been told that your ferritin is low, the next step isn’t necessarily to start taking more iron. It’s worth understanding why your iron stores are low, whether low ferritin may be contributing to your symptoms, and what treatment approach is appropriate for you.
At Kleinburg Integrative Health, naturopathic doctors take an individualized approach to concerns such as iron deficiency, fatigue and low energy. Your symptoms, health history and laboratory results can be reviewed together to determine what may be contributing to your low ferritin and what to do next.