Common mistakes around Ferritin Alltag

Ferritin is a key iron storage protein, but common everyday mistakes include: 1) Testing ferritin non-fasting – recent meals can transiently elevate levels. 2) Ignoring inflammation – ferritin is an acute-phase reactant; during infection or chronic inflammation, ferritin may be falsely normal or high, masking true iron deficiency. 3) Relying solely on ferritin – without transferrin saturation, serum iron, and hemoglobin, the picture is incomplete. 4) Self-supplementing with high-dose iron based on low ferritin – this can be harmful in conditions like hemochromatosis or undiagnosed inflammation. 5) Misinterpreting ferritin as a direct longevity or anti-aging marker – while iron metabolism is linked to oxidative stress, ferritin alone is not a validated biomarker for aging. Evidence for these points is based on clinical practice and physiological principles, not large-scale trials. Caveat: Ferritin levels vary by age, sex, and genetics (e.g., HFE variants). Always interpret with a full iron panel and clinical context.