Low Ferritin: what it means
A Ferritin result below the normal range is considered low. Here is what a reduced Ferritin can point to, and when it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Reference range: 30–300 ng/mL (men); 13–150 ng/mL (premenopausal women)
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What a low Ferritin can mean
- Iron-deficiency anaemia — the textbook reading, usually paired with low haemoglobin, low MCV and low transferrin saturation.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy, GI bleeding — common sources of chronic iron loss.
- Low dietary iron / malabsorption (coeliac disease, gastric bypass, vegan diets without supplementation).
When to discuss with a doctor
If your ferritin is below 30 ng/mL or above 500 ng/mL on a routine test, we recommend discussing it with your primary-care doctor within the next visit cycle. Ferritin below 15 ng/mL alongside fatigue, hair loss or restless legs warrants a focused consultation. Mediora.AI surfaces these thresholds inside your report; we do not diagnose iron deficiency on your behalf.
How to raise a low Ferritin
- Eat more iron-rich foods - red meat, poultry and fish (well absorbed), plus legumes, tofu and dark leafy greens.
- Pair plant iron with vitamin C (citrus, peppers) to boost absorption; tea, coffee and calcium with meals reduce it.
- Oral iron supplements work, but dose, form and duration are best guided by your doctor - too much iron is also harmful.
- Find the cause - heavy periods, GI blood loss or low intake all deplete ferritin; the source matters more than the supplement.
- Recheck in about 8-12 weeks - ferritin rises slowly.
General information, not a treatment plan - decisions about medication or target values belong with your doctor.
Conditions this can relate to
Keep reading
One value is a snapshot. Upload the full test to see every marker explained together.
Upload your test - freeMediora.AI is informational - interpretation, not a diagnosis. A single out-of-range value is common and often benign; always discuss decisions with your doctor.