How are Ferritin Eisenmangel and sleep related?

Ferritin is the body's iron storage protein. Low ferritin (iron deficiency) can impair sleep quality through several mechanisms. The most established link is with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), where iron deficiency disrupts dopamine signaling, causing uncontrollable leg movements during rest – especially in the evening and at night. This makes falling asleep difficult and leads to frequent awakenings. Iron is also essential for synthesizing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate sleep-wake cycles. Additionally, the circadian rhythm of iron homeostasis itself may be disturbed. Studies show that iron supplementation in confirmed deficiency can improve RLS symptoms and sleep quality. However, caution is needed: iron overload is harmful, so supplementation should only be done after medical evaluation and a ferritin blood test. MyBody-X offers blood tests that measure ferritin. The evidence for this connection is human-moderate, based on clinical studies and observations, not on randomized controlled trials from the provided context.