What is Ferritin?
ferritin is a protein found in most organisms that serve as an iron storage agent. Its levels are often measured as part of a number of blood tests to determine human iron levels. Most of the human body's iron shops are in ferritin. Hemoglobin requires iron to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Lack of red blood cells or lack of hemoglobin is known as anemia . Having unbound iron is toxic, so the rest is bound to ferritin and is located in the bone marrow, liver, skeletal muscles and spleen. Some are transmitted in the blood, and this level of ferritin in serum correlates with the total body shops of the body. It is also best to have blood taken in the morning, since then iron has changed throughout the day. Are the highest soon after waking up.
The normal range for women is 12-150 nanograms per millilitr (ng/ml) and between 12-300 ng/ml for men. If the level is low, even within a normal range, it is likely that the person does not have enough iron. For measuring an anÉmia with a deficiency of iron-running reason for low ferritin-levels is the most sensitive blood test.
Other low -level reasons may include chronic bleeding, such as heavy menstrual periods or bleeding from the intestinal tract. This can be caused by ulcers, colon polyps or cancer or hemorrhoids. A simpler reason may be a diet that lacks the corresponding amount of iron.
All iron body is obtained from food. Good sources include meat, fish, eggs and leaf green vegetables. The person needs more iron after bleeding - or during adolescence, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Men rarely suffers from iron deficiency anemia.
High ferritin levels can be caused by any inflammatory disease. They may also be caused by liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis or infection, leukemia or Hodgkin's disease. This condition may also be forcesObit diet with too much iron, as well as overuse of iron supplements.
very high levels such as 1,000 ng/ml or more can indicate hemachromatosis . In this state, the person in the body has a large amount of iron. It may be genetic or because of certain types of anemia that destroy red blood cells. Thalassemia and alcoholism are another disease that can result in this condition. Frequent blood transfusions can also cause this.
One way to alleviate hemachromatosis is to remove blood. This reduces iron levels. There are also medicines that help cleanse other iron.