Evidence check: Ferritin Eisenmangel in the context of Müdigkeit

Ferritin is a key storage protein for iron and a well-established biomarker for body iron reserves. Low ferritin (<30 µg/L) indicates iron deficiency, even if hemoglobin is still normal (latent deficiency). Fatigue is a common but non-specific symptom of iron deficiency because iron is critical for oxygen transport and cellular energy metabolism. The evidence is human-strong: multiple clinical trials and meta-analyses show that iron supplementation significantly reduces fatigue in iron-deficient individuals. However, ferritin must be interpreted with caution – inflammation (elevated CRP) can falsely elevate ferritin levels. A full iron panel including hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and CRP is recommended. MyBody-X does not measure ferritin; this requires clinical lab testing. Caveat: self-supplementation with iron without proper diagnosis can be harmful in conditions like hemochromatosis or chronic inflammation. Persistent fatigue warrants a medical workup.