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Ferritin / Iron-Status Test

Written and medically reviewed by , physiatrist · Last reviewed · How we grade
In one paragraph

Ferritin / Iron-Status Test, graded a measurement tool on Magellan — ferritin is the standard first-line marker of iron stores and a genuinely low value is informative. No numeric effect size is reported for Ferritin / Iron-Status Test in Magellan's graded summary.

Source: J Endocr Soc 2024, PMID 38623382 ↗ · Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests · How Magellan grades evidence · Study write-up · evidence confidence: low

Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests18 PubMed citations
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What it is

Ferritin is the body's main intracellular iron-storage protein, and the concentration of ferritin measured in blood serum correlates closely with total body iron stores. A serum ferritin test is the standard, widely used laboratory measure for assessing iron status: a low value is an early and specific indicator of iron deficiency, whereas an elevated value can reflect iron excess or overload. Because ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, its level rises with inflammation, infection, liver disease and some cancers, which can mask iron deficiency and complicate interpretation, so it is often assessed alongside other iron markers such as transferrin saturation.

Its role in longevity

Iron status has a U-shaped relationship with health: iron deficiency (low ferritin) is a leading cause of anemia and, even without anemia, is associated with fatigue that iron repletion can improve, while in older adults it has been linked to more severe infections; at the other extreme, elevated ferritin and iron overload track with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease - an entity now formalized as 'metabolic hyperferritinemia' - and, in some populations, higher mortality. Much of this evidence is observational and confounded by inflammation (which itself raises ferritin), and within the normal range ferritin was not associated with all-cause, cardiovascular or cancer mortality in the large NHANES III cohort, so the test's clearest value is diagnosing deficiency and overload rather than predicting long-term outcomes. This evidence describes serum ferritin and iron status as a biomarker in general, not this specific commercial test product.

The research

Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound — citations link to PubMed.

“Iron metabolism abnormalities increase mortality risk in the general population”
J Endocr Soc 2024 · PMID 38623382
“serum ferritin levels between 200 and 1200 ng/ml associated with the lowest all-cause and cardiovascular death risks”
J Am Soc Nephrol 2005 · PMID 16033854
“Ferritin is an iron storage protein and its concentration in the plasma or serum reflects iron stores; low ferritin indicates iron deficiency, while elevated ferritin reflects risk of iron overload.”
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021 · PMID 34028001
“Diagnosis of iron deficiency is straightforward, except when it occurs in the context of inflammatory disorders. Oral iron salts correct absolute iron deficiency in most patients, because low hepcidin levels facilitate iron absorption.”
Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2015 · PMID 26637694
“Measurement of serum ferritin (SF) is currently the laboratory test recommended for diagnosing iron deficiency. In the absence of an associated disease, a low SF value is an early and highly specific indicator of iron deficiency.”
Arch Pediatr 2017 · PMID 28622783
“Under normal circumstances, serum ferritin levels are a sensitive marker for iron status but ferritin is an acute-phase reactant that becomes elevated in response to inflammation, complicating the diagnosis.”
Int J Chronic Dis 2018 · PMID 29744352

Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product.

Educational information, not medical advice. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

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FAQ

Does Ferritin / Iron-Status Test have scientific evidence?

Yes — its active compound is linked to 18 peer-reviewed studies, summarized and cited above.

Where can I buy Ferritin / Iron-Status Test?

You can buy it on Amazon via the link above; Magellan earns a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you, which does not affect the evidence grade.

Is Ferritin / Iron-Status Test safe?

Dietary supplements and devices are generally well tolerated but are not a substitute for medical care. Talk to your physician before starting, especially if you take medication or have a health condition.