Do you know your ferritin levels?

Is your ferritin under 25 (ng/ml or ug/L)?

YES

While WHO guidelines define iron
deficiency as ferritin under 15, some
recent research has found that biological
changes occur when ferritin is under 25.

Ferritin levels are associated with iron status
because the body uses ferritin to store iron.

NO

Is your ferritin under 100?

YES

Ferritin can be elevated due to inflammation, infection, or other causes. Guidelines published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition propose that a ferritin value of 100 should be the cutoff for diagnosing iron deficiency.

NO

Your ferritin levels are in the WHO's normal range.
However, in addition to indicating iron storage, ferritin
is an acute-phase reactant that can be elevated due to
inflammation, infection, or other factors.

To learn more, you can check for whether
you suffer from effects associated with low iron.

The effects below have been associated with low iron.
Choose all that apply to you.

• ALWAYS TIRED
• OFTEN WANT/NEED NAPS
• PALE SKIN
• ALWAYS COLD
• FREQUENT DIZZINESS
• LIGHT-HEADED WHEN STANDING
• HAIR THINNING/LOSS
• BRITTLE NAILS
• CHEW ICE
• RESTLESS LEGS
• BRAIN FOG
• DEPRESSION

To get to the bottom of these effects, you may want to contact your doctor or have your iron and blood levels checked.
Some ways to raise iron levels include eating iron-rich foods, cooking in cast iron, and taking iron supplements.

You Experience No Effects Associated With Low Iron

Now that you know what to look for, you
can be vigilant in detecting future possible effects of low iron
in yourself and others.