Evidence check: Ferritin Eisenmangel in the context of gut health

Ferritin is a storage protein for iron and a key marker for iron deficiency. In the context of gut health, iron absorption is critical: inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g., Crohn's, ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, or an imbalanced gut microbiome can impair dietary iron uptake, leading to low ferritin. Helicobacter pylori infection or gastric atrophy can also cause iron deficiency. Conversely, iron deficiency may weaken the gut barrier and alter microbiota composition. The evidence for these links is mostly mechanistic and based on clinical observations (human-moderate). A ferritin blood test is useful but should be interpreted alongside other iron parameters (serum iron, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin). If gut disease is suspected, a gastroenterological workup is essential. MyBody-X does not offer a ferritin test; for that, a medical blood test is needed. Caveat: Low ferritin can be masked by inflammation (acute-phase reaction) – measuring CRP is advisable.