Normal Ferritin Levels for a 27-Year-Old Female
The normal serum ferritin value for a 27-year-old female is approximately 43 μg/L, with a typical range of 15-150 μg/L. 1
Normal Reference Ranges for Ferritin
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an average serum ferritin value of 43 μg/L for adult women 1
- For comparison, the average serum ferritin value for adult men is 135 μg/L 1
- The normal range for women is generally wider than the average value suggests, with values below 15 μg/L indicating iron deficiency 2, 1
- Serum ferritin levels below 30 μg/L generally indicate low body iron stores in women 2, 1
- Values above 150 μg/L in women are rarely associated with iron deficiency, even in the presence of inflammation 2, 1
Clinical Interpretation of Ferritin Values
- A serum ferritin level <15 μg/L is highly specific for iron deficiency (specificity 0.99) 2, 1
- Ferritin levels between 15-30 μg/L suggest depleted iron stores 2
- Values between 30-45 μg/L are in the lower normal range for women 1
- Ferritin values <45 μg/L may warrant consideration for further investigation, especially with concurrent symptoms 2
- In premenopausal women, low ferritin values are commonly due to menstrual blood loss and may not require gastrointestinal investigation in the absence of other symptoms 2
Important Considerations
- Ferritin is an acute-phase protein, meaning infections, inflammations, or tissue damage can elevate its concentration independently of iron status 1
- This elevation can mask depleted iron stores, making interpretation more challenging in inflammatory states 1
- In patients with inflammation, iron deficiency may be present with ferritin levels up to 50-100 μg/L 1
- There is a direct relationship between serum ferritin concentration and iron stores: 1 μg/L of serum ferritin approximately equals 10 mg of stored iron 1
- Serum ferritin should be interpreted along with other iron parameters, such as transferrin saturation, for a complete assessment of iron status 1
Age-Specific Considerations
- Studies of women in their 20s show that approximately 22% may have ferritin levels below 20 ng/mL, indicating subclinical iron deficiency even without anemia 3
- Younger women (below 25 years) tend to have lower iron and ferritin levels compared to women over 35 years 3
- Non-anemic iron deficiency (normal hemoglobin with low ferritin) is common in women of reproductive age due to menstrual blood loss 2