Low ferritin, normal haemoglobin? Why your iron stores stay low despite supplements, UAE doctors explain
Your blood test looks fine. So why are you still feeling exhausted, or finding that your usual workout takes more effort than it used to? Sometimes, the answer lies in what a routine blood test doesn't tell you about your body's iron reserves. Haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, is routinely measured in a full blood count. However, normal haemoglobin does not…
Normal haemoglobin levels do not guarantee healthy iron stores. Ferritin, a protein that stores iron, may fall before haemoglobin drops enough to signal anaemia. Low iron reserves can cause fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and difficulty concentrating without any noticeable symptoms. The misconception is that normal haemoglobin means iron is fine.
Iron supports energy production, muscle function, and cognitive function. Dr Yousef Said, Medical Director at Metabolic, explains that a misconception is that normal haemoglobin levels mean iron stores are adequate. Iron deficiency can occur without anaemia, as the body uses up its stored iron before haemoglobin necessarily falls.
Ferritin levels below 30 ng/mL indicate depleted iron stores, while below 15 ng/mL suggests iron deficiency. However, ferritin can rise due to inflammation, so a normal or high reading may not exclude iron deficiency, particularly in chronic disease. Other markers like transferrin saturation, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and C-reactive protein (CRP) can provide additional information about iron status.
Low ferritin does not always follow a single pattern; symptoms can vary and may not point to a single cause.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
