High Ferritin Levels in Blood? The Danger You need to Know.

Are you looking at your blood tests and finding that you have elevated ferritin in your blood? Maybe you're wondering what this means for you. Is it dangerous? What do you need to know about high ferritin levels in your blood? In this video, we're going to look at high ferritin levels in your blood and also what the dangers are associated with high ferritin and high iron states in general.
In this video, we're going to look at high ferritin levels in the blood and the dangerous things that high ferritin levels could be leading to. So high ferritin in the blood doesn't necessarily tell us why it's high. An important aspect of managing high ferritin and what to do about it is understanding why it's high.

00:00 Introduction to High Ferritin Levels
01:16 Understanding the Basics of High Ferritin
01:41 Common Causes of High Ferritin in the Blood
02:57 The Dangers of Excess Iron and Oxidative Stress
04:21 Inflammation and Iron: The Body's Response
07:14 Conclusion and Next Steps
So some of these reasons can include things like hemochromatosis, which we've discussed in other videos, inflammation, iron overload, and dietary iron intake. With hemochromatosis, it's a genetic problem with too much iron being absorbed from the diet, leading to iron accumulation and potentially damage to organs such as the liver, heart, pancreas, and even other endocrine areas of the body.
The second thing is inflammation. The elevation in ferritin levels can be due to chronic inflammation, which can be caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or even long-term occurrences of infections like COVID-19 and other viral and bacterial infections.
Iron overload disorders, such as thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia, can also cause high ferritin levels. And then with diet, it's just that you're consuming too much iron from your diet, whether that's from an iron supplement or a natural food source that's high in iron.

So these are some of the common reasons or causes for high ferritin in the blood. But what's the problem with that? Does iron make you strong? Don't our bodies need it to be healthy? Why is high ferritin really a problem? The answer is, yes, our bodies do need iron, but no, we don't want too much either. So high ferritin suggests that it's well above the normal ranges. So we're not going to talk about the specific ranges in this video, but mostly want to get into a little bit more of the problems caused by high ferritin and high iron. In general, like most things in our bodies, you need a balance of just the right amount of things, and the same thing is true for iron.

So our bodies definitely need iron to make things like hemoglobin, which carries oxygen around our bodies. Our bodies also need iron for white blood cells to produce their killing activities. Certain white blood cells need iron to produce some of their powerful antimicrobial effects. We also need iron in our mitochondria so we can make energy.

So it's when there's too much iron in our bodies that our bodies can become overburdened with the iron. And that iron can participate in reactions that generate reactive oxygen species, also referred to as ROS. These are free radicals, and these molecules are highly reactive molecules that can damage cells and tissues. This overall process is called oxidative stress. When the overall oxidative stress in our bodies exceeds the capacity of our bodies to quench those free radicals or reduce the oxidative stress via our antioxidant systems like glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin E, and things like that, it leads to inflammation. Now, what is inflammation? Of course, inflammation, as we said in other videos, is increased immune activity. So those free radicals are acting almost like signals to the immune cells to tell them that there's actually a problem going on.

And that increased immune activity also occurs on a spectrum. You can have very low levels of inflammation, moderate levels, high levels, and then you can have really high levels, like in cases like severe COVID-19 or other chronic infections or autoimmune-type reactions. So our bodies developed this special way to transport iron around to protect our cells and tissues from these potential problems. Because of the high potential for these reactive oxygen species, and these systems work really well, except when they're overwhelmed from too much iron coming in for whatever reason.

So a little bit of excess iron from, let's say, you consumed a meal with a lot of beef, you're going to be fine. But as that accumulation of iron goes up and up, the systems get taxed more, which can lead to larger problems. So large amounts of excess iron lead to those reactive oxygen species, cell and tissue damage, and a process called lipid peroxidation. Once lipid peroxidation occurs, it's kind of hard for your body to reverse it, and it leads to programmed cell death. This programmed cell death, coming from iron, is called ferroptosis.

[firebird]

My ferritin was 700 in June, 2019. It had been elevated before but the doctors saw no issues with it. A hematologist tested me and I have a genetic gene mutation that makes me a carrier for hemachromatosis. I use Ip6, curcumin, resveratol, teas and coffee, dairy to reduce ferritin levels. I am currently at 68, but have kept it under 145 for most of the last 3 years. I rarely do phlebotomies but I am learning now that there is a health benefit to them and will likely make it part of my routine. The only thing is, I still feel awful and nobody can figure it out. Lowering my ferritin has not changed anything about how I feel physically.

[brendaprice]

First of all I can't believe this doctor actually answers questions in the comments but anyway I'm going to a hematologist this month because my ferritin level is 530 any suggestions

[shawnwashere]

After my cancer treatment. My ferritin was 918. Tried curcumin, ip6, and inositol. Didn't work for me. Tried TRT. Didn't make me feel good. Found out that iron can't get in your cells without copper. Took 2mg of copper per day. Worked my way up to 8mg per day. My ferritin is now below 300. And copper is the only thing I take towards my high iron.

[joban]

Thank you, great advice! Happy Holidays!

[nevermsrp]

great video, can you share info about low Ferritin issue on TRT? thanks

[benzodiazepineawarenesswit]

My husband’s ferritin is 1245. He is in remission from Leukemia and Merkel Cell Carcinoma and it has been rising over the last few years. We keep asking his doctors at Dana Farber why it is so high and none of them are concerned and say they don’t know why it is so high.

[davidkellymitchell]

Thank you! That answered multiple questions. I have low absorption and elevated ferritin and slightly elevated neutrophils but normal white cell count. Had Covid in January but my knees and hips pain is horrendous from arthritis. Bone Doc said all he could help me with is surgical replacement. Oh boy.

[soujrnr]

My wife was recently diagnosed with very high iron levels, and your explanations of things here was very informative. It was only found because she went to her doctor for an unrelated heart issue. They did blood work and found it from that, but not because they were looking for it. She was supposed to start therapeutic phlebotomy today, but they wouldn't take her blood due to her wearing a heart monitor. So, back to the drawing board. What are your thoughts on something like Inositol Hexaphosphate as a supplement to lower the iron level in the system?

[counterbalancelife]

My ferritin was 467. Iron was within range but hadn't seen saturation numbers. Started taking IP6 and began TRT around the same time. 3 months later ferritin was 250. I'm sure some iron was taken up with more red blood cells from test. Blood Iron levels were mid normal range and saturation at 37%. Donated blood for the first time and will continue until my iron and ferritin is down to in the lower half of normal.

[createspaceone]

My mum needs help. currently has 241 ug/l very high ferritin levels and 5.4 umol/l low iron and 8.1% low transferrin saturation. uric acid is 136 umol/l a bit on low side. CRP is 1.83 mg/l which is considered good. insulin 34 pmol/l which is considered ok.

found out she has h.pylori 7U/ml considered high, which is known to cause high ferritin?

do i metal cleanse her ?? what do i do? been giving Sulforaphane eg broccoli lately, cucumin, berberine. thinking of getting mastic gum for the h.pylori

[TheChiGirl]

My daughter is 15 and her ferritin is 210 and b12 is 1814. Autoimmune disorders do run in family, mostly hashimotos but her thyroid is fine so far. Trying to wrap my brain around this one since doctors around here aren’t really helpful.

[MiguePizar]

I have high ferritin (656ng/ml), low hemoglobin (12.9g/dl), also high Vitamin B12 (1280 pg/ml) and high SHBG (169 mol/L), but everything else including HDL, LDL, etc.... liver enzymes, and all else are quite good, what could be the problem? maybe Thalassemia? In any case I just did a blood test again and now I'm waiting for the results and for the appointment of my doc to see if he sends me to an specialist or not. Best

[vanessarenda]

My iron is28
Iron Saturation is 9
Ferritin is 158. Is this bad?

[steveandrade]

Thanks. I have normal Iron and high Ferritin. MAYBE but I doubt it, I can get a doctor to consider this when looking at my blood work. I have carried around a VERY serious ear infection for more than 2 years, I have have 2 major operations to correct it but I think it is still here. When I ask a doctor to consider this they have no response.

[Boojerella]

Incredibly helpful! I totally understand and appreciate your video..just wish my Dr did! Ferritin 300, heterozygous C282Y, Irish heritage, early menopause, arthropathy from HH. Dr doesn’t think ferritin is high enough to address. It’s anemia of chronic disease surely, but that doesn’t fit their HH box. Treat ME, not my LABS! Thanks so much!

[dadaradabada]

I am struggling with this ferritin at 800 without iron overload, slight anemia, normal hs-CRP, ESR within range, Il6 0.5 out of 7.5. reticulate count normal. Hematology said its not his department. Lft clear, creatinine normal. Ultrasound of abdomen normal. Weight loss is significant 😢 who should I see? Lots of digestive issues for 4 years.

[cathymcpherson]

I went for routine blood work and my ferritin came back 180 which is out of range. I am usually slightly anemic so I had been taking iron tablets but stopped about a 40 days ago could that still be in my system to elevate ferritin. I am 63 year old women no pain or inflammation that I know of and the rest of blood work is fine. Hemoglobin 12.2 should I be concerned?

[Divan]

Can a recommended daily dose cause a high ferritin level and cause hives or any other side effects? If a child accidentally ate more than one multivitamin gummy with iron? Usually there is warning on bottles, that hypersensitivity may occur and the dose is enough to harm a child

[TheMisswhite]

After iron infusion, my ferritin level went up from 8.6 to 508..what should I do. I am so worried.

[bsucnzr]

Can donating blood reduce the amount of Ferritin 🤔