Your ferritin result – now what?

We have now measured your ferritin content in the blood: Ferritin is a protein molecule in which iron is stored. The ferritin content in the blood provides information about the filling level of the iron stores and can therefore detect an iron deficiency or excess early and counteract it.

Frau hält Smartphone und kiweno Ferritin Schnelltest in die Kamera

The results of the kiweno ferritin rapid test are divided into 3 levels.

Note: The following standard values apply to apparently healthy adults. The standard values for ferritin differ for women and men. Therefore, please orient yourself to the biological sex.

Women:

< 15 μg/L = The result is below the normal range. This indicates an iron deficiency.
15-200 μg/L = The result is within the normal range.
> 200 μg/L = The result is above the normal range. This indicates an iron oversupply.

Men:

< 15 μg/L = The result is below the normal range. This indicates an iron deficiency.
15-300 μg/L = The result is within the normal range.
> 300 μg/L = The result is above the normal range. This indicates an iron oversupply.

Caution: The interpretation of the measured value may differ from this table depending on individual health and physical conditions. In case of acute infections or certain diseases (severe liver or kidney diseases) the result may be elevated.

Pregnancy can lead to changes in threshold values and increased requirements. Especially in these cases, you should seek medical advice for comprehensive clarification.

Dr. med. Roland Fuschelberger

Dr. med. Roland Fuschelberger is the medical director of kiweno as well as an experienced doctor for internal medicine and general practitioner with the necessary view beyond conventional medicine. He has accompanied kiweno since the beginning and assists with his medical knowledge.

Below you will find general recommendations from our Dr. med. Roland Fuschelberger on the dosage of iron.

Dosage of iron supplements

In case of iron deficiency (<15 μg/L)

If the ferritin value is <15 μg/L, the main thing is to clarify the possible causes of iron deficiency.

In addition to the ferritin value, other indicators of iron deficiency (hemoglobin, transferrin saturation) may also be low in this case, which you can best have tested by a specialist (hematologist, iron center).

If an iron deficiency is detected, the DGHO recommends an initial dosage of 50 to 100 mg FE2+ daily and this over a period of at least 8 weeks. However, since side effects can also occur with these amounts, I recommend medical treatment in order to have the dosage individually adjusted to your needs.

Within the normal range (15-200 μg/L | 15-300 μg/L)

Note: In laboratory diagnostics, standard values are calculated from the statistical average. This means that a normal range is defined with the values that 95% of all tested, healthy people achieve. However, this may result in symptoms appearing even above the threshold value.

Also in the case of ferritin, iron deficiency symptoms can occur at levels below 100 µg/L. Especially men (who have higher ferritin levels from a biological point of view) should already check for possible causes of iron deficiency at a result <30 μg/L.

To maintain or increase your normal iron supply (ferritin value in the lower normal range), even a balanced and iron-rich diet can help. However, iron absorption through food is not always so easy. Tea and coffee, for example, can inhibit absorption and not every form of iron (animal or vegetable) is absorbed equally well.

To support your body additionally, high-quality iron supplements are a good addition. I recommend a dosage of 40 mg of iron per day.

In addition, I recommend the following tips for taking supplements:

on an empty stomach: iron supplements are best utilized by the body one hour before or two hours after a meal
combined with vitamin C: Iron can be better absorbed by the body with a glass of orange juice or similar vitamin C-rich drink.

Oversupply (>200 μg/L / >300 μg/L)

In the case of an oversupply, it is important to get to the bottom of the causes together with your family doctor. Too high ferritin values can indicate certain diseases such as iron storage disease or liver inflammation that require medical treatment.

If you are already taking iron supplements, I strongly recommend stopping supplementation. Otherwise, severe physical damage may result.

Rothaarige Frau sitzt und atmet tief durch

Find the right iron supplement for you

About half of the female population between puberty and menopause is not sufficiently supplied with iron, which can lead to a wide variety of symptoms.

A balanced micronutrient balance is essential for health and well-being. High-quality micronutrients can provide support in the daily supply. Provided that the quality is right.

Purchase criteria

As with food, the same applies to micronutrients: Quality determines their benefits. Because it is precisely this that makes the decisive difference for the success of the application. This is also the reason why it is worth taking a critical look at the label or the website of the micronutrient brand before buying.

Quality standards
Micronutrient manufacturers are subject to food law and can, of course, voluntarily prescribe even stricter quality standards than those prescribed by law. The standards of the globally recognized American Pharmacopoeia (USP) are particularly comprehensive in the qualification of raw materials or in the testing methods. These include even more guidelines than the European Pharmacopoeia.
Scientifically based formulations
Gold-standard studies, meta-analyses, and reviews of double-blind randomized and placebo-controlled trials should form the basis for product development.
Tested ingredients
The greatest possible effects can only be expected if the ingredients are of excellent quality. Therefore, it is important that only qualified raw materials are used. You can recognize high quality by the fact that the micronutrients have been tested by independent institutions and found to be good. One example is the Cologne List® – the database for dietary supplements with minimized doping risk.
Optimal compatibility
Dietary supplements should be hypoallergenic, i.e. they should not contain unnecessary additives and preservatives such as release agents, colorants, coatings or trans fats. If this is the case, the products are suitable even if you are prone to intolerances.
Ideal bioavailability
Bioavailability describes the measure of how much of a micronutrient the body can absorb and use. Organically bound minerals and trace elements as well as vitamins active in metabolism are known to the body.

Keep an eye on your ferritin level in the long term

If you decide to counteract a deficiency with iron supplements, it makes sense to check your progress after some time and to keep track of your iron levels over time.

This way you can see how effective your supplementation is and whether you should talk to your trusted doctor about a different dosage.