Low ferritin ≠ low iron (here’s why it’s more complicated)
Hey!
Let’s set the record straight on one of the most misunderstood lab values: Ferritin.
Ferritin is commonly used as a marker of iron status—and yes, it can be part of that picture.
But here’s what most people (and sadly, many doctors) miss:
👉 Ferritin is also an acute phase reactant—it rises with inflammation, infections, or chronic immune stress.
👉 It can also look low when iron isn’t the actual problem.
In other words:
Low ferritin doesn’t automatically mean you need iron.
I can’t count how many times I’ve seen this go wrong.
In fact, I once had a patient in his late 60s—chronic pain, fatigue, and worsening cognitive issues. His old doctor told him years ago to “take iron,” and he’d been doing it daily for decades.
When we ran his labs, he didn’t just have high ferritin—he had iron overload.
Iron is a pro-oxidant. Too much of it in the wrong places (like the brain) can cause damage that’s hard to undo.
Here’s the scary part:
If a man truly has low iron, it’s a red flag. It means there’s blood loss or something deeper going on—and piling on iron can actually mask that root issue.
This is why I never guess with iron—and never recommend it unless the full panel adds up:
Ferritin
Iron saturation
TIBC
Inflammation markers
And most importantly, your clinical history
When iron is needed, it’s often a home run. But when it’s not—it’s gasoline on the fire.
If you’ve been told your ferritin is low… or if you’ve been taking iron without knowing your full iron status, let’s take a deeper look.
👉 Book your June lab review (Zoom with me) and get 10% off any targeted supplement protocol we build together.
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In Health,
Dr. G
Creating Generational Health