--- title: "Ferritin / Iron-Status Test — Evidence, Benefits & Where to… | Magellan" description: "Ferritin / Iron-Status Test — Ferritin is the body's main intracellular iron-storage protein, and the concentration of ferritin measured in blood serum…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html" type: "product" section: "Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests" evidence_grade: "Measurement tool" evidence_tier: "tool" citations: 18 product_id: 147 price_usd: 99 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" license: "Educational content — not medical advice" --- # Ferritin / Iron-Status Test [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/2.md) › Ferritin / Iron-Status Test **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/147 ## Key facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Product | Ferritin / Iron-Status Test | | Category | [Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/2.md) | | Evidence grade | Measurement tool (B) | | Peer-reviewed citations | 18 | | Typical listed price | $99.00 (check the live price) | | Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ferritin%20%2F%20Iron-Status%20Test&tag=magellanlong-20) | | Catalog ID | 147 | ## 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. ## Evidence grade: Measurement tool - **What the grade means:** Graded as an instrument: how accurately it measures, and whether measuring it changes anything. - **Dose used in studies:** Reasonable once if you have a specific reason - heavy periods, a plant-based diet, blood donation, unexplained fatigue - and again 3 months after starting iron, no sooner. Not a number to track routinely if you have no reason to suspect a problem. - **What this grade does not say:** Ferritin is the standard first-line marker of iron stores and a genuinely low value is informative. The trap is that ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, so it rises with infection, inflammation, obesity and liver disease - which means a normal or even high ferritin does not rule out iron deficiency in anyone with an inflammatory burden, and this is common enough to matter. The thresholds are shakier than they look, too: the WHO cut-offs of 12 and 15 micrograms per litre were set by expert opinion, and when NHANES data were used to derive thresholds anchored to actual iron-deficient erythropoiesis they came out substantially higher, so a result reported as normal against the old cut-off may not be. A ferritin on its own, without a CRP to interpret it against and without a full blood count, is a number you will end up taking to a clinician anyway - and iron is not a supplement to start on a home result, because taking it when you do not need it does harm. ## In the news - **Ferritin test** — Mayo Clinic 2023 [Read it](https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ferritin-test/about/pac-20384928) > If a ferritin test shows that the blood ferritin level is low, it means the body's iron stores are low. This is a condition called iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause anemia. - **Ferritin Test** — Cleveland Clinic 2025 [Read it](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17820-ferritin-test) > Ferritin levels reflect how much iron your body has in storage. Low levels mean you don't have much iron saved up. High levels mean you have too much iron saved up. ## The research Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product. ### Cited studies 1. **Evidence: Serum ferritin (iron stores)** J Endocr Soc 2024 · [PMID 38623382](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38623382/) · [DOI 10.1210/jendso/bvae063](https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae063) > Iron metabolism abnormalities increase mortality risk in the general population 2. **Time-dependent associations between iron and mortality in hemodialysis patients** J Am Soc Nephrol 2005 · [PMID 16033854](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16033854/) · [DOI 10.1681/ASN.2005040423](https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2005040423) > serum ferritin levels between 200 and 1200 ng/ml associated with the lowest all-cause and cardiovascular death risks 3. **Serum or plasma ferritin concentration as an index of iron deficiency and overload.** Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021 · [PMID 34028001](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34028001/) · [DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD011817.pub2](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011817.pub2) > 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. 4. **Iron deficiency: new insights into diagnosis and treatment.** Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2015 · [PMID 26637694](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26637694/) · [DOI 10.1182/asheducation-2015.1.8](https://doi.org/10.1182/asheducation-2015.1.8) > 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. 5. **[Biological diagnosis of iron deficiency in children].** Arch Pediatr 2017 · [PMID 28622783](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28622783/) · [DOI 10.1016/S0929-693X(17)24003-2](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-693X%2817%2924003-2) > 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. 6. **Limitations of Serum Ferritin in Diagnosing Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Conditions.** Int J Chronic Dis 2018 · [PMID 29744352](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744352/) · [DOI 10.1155/2018/9394060](https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9394060) > 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. 7. **Efficacy of iron supplementation on fatigue and physical capacity in non-anaemic iron-deficient adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.** BMJ Open 2018 · [PMID 29626044](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29626044/) · [DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019240](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019240) > In IDNA adults, iron supplementation is associated with reduced subjective measures of fatigue but not with objective improvements in physical capacity. 8. **Daily iron supplementation for improving anaemia, iron status and health in menstruating women.** Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016 · [PMID 27087396](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27087396/) · [DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD009747.pub2](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009747.pub2) > Women receiving iron were significantly less likely to be anaemic at the end of intervention compared to women receiving control (risk ratio (RR) 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25 to 0.60, 10 studies, 3273 women, moderate quality evidence). 9. **Iron Supplementation, Response in Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Analysis of Five Trials.** Am J Med 2017 · [PMID 28454902](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28454902/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.03.045](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.03.045) > Iron-replacement therapy improved quality of life and reduced fatigue. 10. **Association between Serum Iron Store Biomarkers and All-Cause Mortality in Japanese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Nationwide Cohort Study.** Am J Nephrol 2025 · [PMID 39894014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39894014/) · [DOI 10.1159/000543888](https://doi.org/10.1159/000543888) > Contour plots demonstrated increased mortality risk in areas with low ferritin and TSAT levels. Additionally, even in regions with high TSAT levels, there was a trend toward increased mortality risk with increasing ferritin levels. 11. **Serum ferritin and risk for new-onset heart failure and cardiovascular events in the community.** Eur J Heart Fail 2016 · [PMID 27758018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27758018/) · [DOI 10.1002/ejhf.622](https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.622) > Increased serum ferritin levels independently amplify the risk for new-onset HF in women in the community. 12. **Ferritin levels, inflammatory biomarkers, and mortality in peripheral arterial disease: a substudy of the Iron (Fe) and Atherosclerosis Study (FeAST) Trial.** J Vasc Surg 2010 · [PMID 20304584](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20304584/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2009.12.068](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2009.12.068) > These data demonstrate statistical correlations between levels of ferritin, inflammatory biomarkers, and mortality in this subset of patients with PAD. 13. **Body iron stores had no impact on coronary heart disease outcomes: a middle-aged male cohort from the general population with 21-year follow-up.** Open Heart 2022 · [PMID 35410912](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35410912/) · [DOI 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001928](https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2021-001928) > In a cohort of middle-aged men from the general population with well validated and prospectively collected data, we did not find any association between serum ferritin or serum transferrin receptor as markers of BIS and CHD events after 21 years of follow-up. 14. **Association of elevated serum ferritin concentration with insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism in Korean men and women.** Metabolism 2010 · [PMID 20423745](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20423745/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.metabol.2010.03.007](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2010.03.007) > Increased serum concentrations of ferritin are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 DM, IFG, and metabolic syndrome in men, but only with IFG in women. 15. **Serum Ferritin Levels Are Associated with Adipose Tissue Dysfunction-Related Indices in Obese Adults.** Biol Trace Elem Res 2022 · [PMID 35297006](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35297006/) · [DOI 10.1007/s12011-022-03198-3](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03198-3) > Serum ferritin was associated with elevated adipose-IR, VAI, and LAP, suggesting that ferritin could be an important early indicator for the risk of developing adipose tissue dysfunction in obese individuals. 16. **Iron Deficiency and Incident Infections among Community-Dwelling Adults Age 70 Years and Older: Results from the DO-HEALTH Study.** J Nutr Health Aging 2022 · [PMID 36156678](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36156678/) · [DOI 10.1007/s12603-022-1836-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1836-2) > baseline iron deficiency was not associated with incident overall infections, but was associated with a 63% greater rate of incident severe infections requiring hospitalization (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.63, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.11-2.41, p=0.01). 17. **The association of biomarkers of iron status with mortality in US adults.** Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD 2012 · [PMID 21330119](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21330119/) > In NHANES III (n=12,258, up to 18 years of follow-up), ferritin and transferrin saturation within the normal range were not associated with all-cause, cardiovascular, or cancer mortality. 18. **A Population-Based and Clinical Cohort Validation of the Novel Consensus Definition of Metabolic Hyperferritinemia.** The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2024 · [PMID 38124275](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38124275/) > Population and clinical cohorts validated a consensus definition of 'metabolic hyperferritinemia', linking elevated ferritin to fatty-liver and cardiometabolic-risk phenotypes. ## Where to buy [Search Amazon for Ferritin / Iron-Status Test](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ferritin%20%2F%20Iron-Status%20Test&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ItemPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html","name":"Ferritin / Iron-Status Test","description":"Ferritin is the body's main intracellular iron-storage protein, and the concentration of ferritin measured in blood serum correlates closely with total…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/c/2.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Ferritin / Iron-Status Test","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html"}]},{"@type":"Product","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html#product","name":"Ferritin / Iron-Status Test","category":"Diagnostics & Epigenetic Tests","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/147.html","description":"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. 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Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).