Iron-storage acute-phase protein
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About Ferritin
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About Ferritin
Overview and History
Ferritin is a hollow, spherical protein complex that sequesters iron in a mineralized form, limiting free iron’s reactivity and making iron available for cellular needs. Biochemically it is classified as an iron-storage protein; circulating ferritin is a small fraction derived from cells and reflects body iron handling as well as cellular turnover.
Clinically, serum ferritin has long been used as a practical indicator of iron stores because low values commonly track with reduced iron availability. However, ferritin is also an acute‑phase protein produced during inflammation or tissue stress, so its interpretation requires context from inflammatory and hematologic markers.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Elevated ferritin levels may be associated with increased iron stores, ongoing inflammation, liver stress, metabolic strain, or increased cell turnover; in many situations higher ferritin acts as a marker of inflammatory activity rather than isolated iron excess. Low ferritin levels generally indicate depleted iron stores and reduced iron availability for processes like red blood cell production and cellular energy.
Because ferritin reflects both iron status and inflammatory state, its meaning is best determined alongside other Cardio Zoomer results (for example, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, CRP, liver markers, and metabolic indicators) to reveal the overall pattern driving the abnormality.
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes ferritin to evaluate the intersection of iron homeostasis and inflammation—both of which influence metabolic and vascular biology. Ferritin helps distinguish whether iron stores or inflammatory signaling are contributing to a broader cardiometabolic pattern, supporting more precise interpretation of lipid, inflammatory, and metabolic domains.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
