Is Ferritin useful for Darmgesundheit?

Ferritin is a storage protein for iron and a well-established clinical marker of iron status. Iron deficiency can negatively impact gut health by impairing mucosal immunity, altering the gut microbiome, and promoting inflammation. However, ferritin is not a direct measure of gut health. Elevated ferritin may reflect inflammation or liver dysfunction, which can secondarily affect the gut. The evidence linking ferritin to gut health is moderate and largely observational. For a comprehensive gut health assessment, additional markers such as fecal calprotectin, zonulin, or microbiome profiling are more informative. A ferritin test alone is insufficient to evaluate gut health. Caveat: ferritin is an acute-phase reactant and can be falsely elevated during inflammation. Interpretation should always consider the full clinical picture.