What role does Ferritin play in Wechseljahre?

Ferritin is the primary iron-storage protein. During menopause, menstrual blood loss ceases, reducing iron excretion. Over time, this can lead to gradually rising ferritin levels, reflecting increased iron stores. Elevated ferritin in postmenopausal women has been associated with oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk in some observational studies. However, ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, meaning inflammation (common in aging) can raise it independently of iron status. Therefore, a single ferritin measurement is not sufficient to diagnose iron overload; additional markers like transferrin saturation or soluble transferrin receptor are needed. The evidence linking ferritin directly to menopause-related symptoms or diseases is moderate and mostly mechanistic. MyBody-X consumer tests do not typically measure ferritin directly; if included, results require clinical correlation. Do not self-supplement iron or antioxidants based on ferritin alone. Consult a physician for a full iron panel and personalized assessment.