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What Do My Ferritin Levels Mean? How Can I Increase Them?

blood tests copper ferritin iron

Ferritin is a protein made inside of cells that helps store iron. There are two forms: Heavy Chain (HC) and Light Chain (LC). Copper is required to load iron into HC Ferritin properly.
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When there is inflammation (excess iron, not enough copper and many other things):
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↪️LC Ferritin discharges iron into the cell and gets secreted out into the blood. This is called “Serum Ferritin” on a blood test.
🏦Ferritin gets denatured and basically becomes Hemosiderin, an iron-storing complex that’s like a bank vault without a key.
⬆️The body also increases the production of the protein Hepcidin, which decreases the iron circulating in the blood.
🔁The protein Haptoglobin binds to free Hemoglobin, best known for carrying oxygen, in the blood.
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All of this causes an accumulation of iron in the tissues and organs. Even though unideal, the body does this because it’s trying to protect itself — it knows iron feeds pathogenesis (disease).
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Unfortunately, Serum Ferritin is what conventional medicine uses to measure the overall iron levels in our bodies. A shotgun shell that is a CLEAR sign of dysfunction.
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World-renowned iron expert Sir Douglas B. Kell, PhD has documented that Ferritin should only be found INSIDE cells where it can do its job and that Serum Ferritin (OUTSIDE cells, in the blood) should be ZERO.
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Remind me, WHY are we trying to get our Serum Ferritin levels up?!
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More ironically, it was only until the 70s when we started using Serum Ferritin as the definitive marker for iron status. From 1860-1972 we used Hemoglobin, where ~80% of our iron can be found at any given time.
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“But my hemoglobin is low too!” This is a CLEAR sign of copper deficiency and iron overload. Work on getting your copper levels up and your iron recycling system locked and loaded.
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IMO, the Full Monty Iron Panel — which measures your true iron and copper status, iron recycling capability and more — is one of the best tests out there. This is something I’m trained in analyzing, DM me if interested.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Daru, J. Colman, K. Stanworth, S.J. De La Salle, B. Wood, E.M. Pasricha, S-R. (2017). Serum ferritin as an indicator of iron status: what do we need to know?. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5701723/.

Dignass, A. Farrag, K. Stein, J. (2018). Limitations of Serum Ferritin in Diagnosing Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Conditions. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878890/.

Fox, P.L. (2003). The copper-iron chronicles: the story of an intimate relationship. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12572662/.

Kell, D.B. Pretorius, E. (2014). Serum Ferritin is an Important Inflammatory Disease Marker, as it is Mainly a Leakage Product from Damaged Cells. Metallomics.

Lab Tests Online. (2020). Ferritin. Retrieved from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/ferritin#:~:text=Ferritin%20is%20a%20protein%20that,of%20ferritin%20in%20the%20blood..

Iron Toxicity Post #28: Stop allowing ferritin only blood test!. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/mag-pie-alert-27-toxicity-of-iron/.

Iron Toxicity Post #29: Irregular iron blood markers especially low ferritin is code for more magnesium, ceruloplasmin and B2. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/mag-pie-alert-30-toxicity-of-iron/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #41: Anemia of Inflammation and how it relates to anemia. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/mag-pie-alert-41-toxicity-of-iron/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #52. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-52-if-still-anemic-maybe-youre-just-iron-ignorant/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #55: Ferritin is NOTHING, Hemosiderin is EVERYTHING!. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-55-ferritin-is-nothing-hemosiderin-is-everything/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #56: How Anemia of Inflammation is misdiagnosed!. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-56/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #60: ‘Am I really anemic?’ or said another way: ‘Not known because not looked for’. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-60-your-am-i-really-anemic-playbook-or-said-another-way-not-known-because-not-looked-for/.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #66: ‘Iron and the RBC (Red Blood Cell): Is this where the assault begin?. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-66-iron-and-the-rbc-red-blood-cell-is-this-where-the-assault-begins-omg-does-a-bear-sleep-in-the-woods/.

UniProt. Ferritin Heavy Chain. Retrieved from: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P02794.

UniProt. Ferritin Light Chain. Retrieved from: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P02792.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.