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What is transferrin in the body?

Author

Sarah Oconnor

Updated on March 09, 2026

What is transferrin in the body?

Transferrin is the main protein in the blood that binds to iron and transports it throughout the body.

Similarly, you may ask, what does it mean when transferrin is low?

Low transferrin can impair hemoglobin production (since to make hemoglobin, you have to have iron) and so lead to anemia. Low transferrin can be due to poor production of transferrin by the liver (where it's made) or excessive loss of transferrin through the kidneys into the urine.

One may also ask, what are symptoms of low transferrin? Symptoms of anemia can include:

  • Extreme tiredness or weakness.
  • Pale skin color.
  • Dizziness.
  • Irritability.
  • Headaches.
  • Shortness of breath and fast heartbeat during physical activity.

Likewise, what does transferrin level indicate?

A high TIBC, UIBC, or transferrin usually indicates iron deficiency, but they are also increased in pregnancy and with the use of oral contraceptives. A low TIBC, UIBC, or transferrin may also occur if someone has malnutrition, inflammation, liver disease, or nephrotic syndrome.

Is low transferrin bad?

In mild to moderate protein-energy malnutrition, transferrin values may vary, limiting the usefulness of this test. However, markedly low transferrin levels indicate severe protein-energy malnutrition. A value less than 100 mg/dL may be considered a reliable index of severe protein-energy malnutrition.

What drink is high in iron?

Cocoa and beef liver smoothie
And beef liver is one of the richest natural sources of heme iron that you can eat. However, many people don't like the taste. Conveniently, you can easily add beef liver powder to recipes like smoothies to boost their iron content while masking the liver taste.

What does it mean if transferrin saturation is low?

Decreased transferrin saturation values are found in chronic iron deficiency, chronic infection, extensive malignancy, tissue inflammation states, uremia, and nephrotic syndrome. The value of the transferrin saturation is calculated with the formula below.

How is low transferrin treated?

If your transferrin is low due to iron overload: Avoid foods that are high in iron, such as red meat, fish, and poultry [43]. Eat more foods that reduce iron absorption such as fiber and phytic acid (from whole grains) and chili [44, 45, 46].

What is considered a dangerously low ferritin level?

Serum ferritin is typically less than 10 ng/mL in severe iron deficiency associated with anemia.

What is a dangerously low iron saturation level?

The range of normal in most laboratories is 30 to 300 ng/mL (67.4 to 674.1 pmol/L), and the mean is 88 ng/mL (197.7 pmol/L) in men and 49 ng/mL (110.1 pmol/L) in women. Low levels (< 12 ng/mL (27 pmol/L)) are specific for iron deficiency.

How do you increase transferrin naturally?

Tips to Get Enough Iron
  1. Eat lean red meat: This is the best source of easily absorbed heme iron.
  2. Eat chicken and fish: These are also good sources of heme iron.
  3. Consume vitamin C-rich foods: Eat vitamin C-rich foods during meals to increase the absorption of non-heme iron.

What is a high transferrin saturation level?

Serum transferrin saturation.

This test measures the amount of iron bound to a protein (transferrin) that carries iron in your blood. Transferrin saturation values greater than 45% are considered too high.

What is the function of transferrin?

Transferrin is a blood-plasma glycoprotein, which plays a central role in iron metabolism and is responsible for ferric-ion delivery. Transferrin functions as the most critical ferric pool in the body. It transports iron through the blood to various tissues such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

What does your ferritin level mean?

Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body's iron stores are low and you have iron deficiency. As a result, you could be anemic.

How do you reduce transferrin saturation?

Dietary changes can include:
  1. avoiding supplements that contain iron.
  2. avoiding supplements that contain vitamin C, as this vitamin increases iron absorption.
  3. reducing iron-rich and iron-fortified foods.
  4. avoiding uncooked fish and shellfish.
  5. limiting alcohol intake, as this can damage the liver.

Is transferrin the same as ferritin?

Ferritin is stored in the body's cells until it's time to make more red blood cells. The body will signal the cells to release ferritin. The ferritin then binds to another substance called transferrin. Transferrin is a protein that combines with ferritin to transport it to where new red blood cells are made.

What is a transferrin blood test for?

A total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test measures the blood's ability to attach itself to iron and transport it around the body. A transferrin test is similar. If you have iron deficiency (a lack of iron in your blood), your iron level will be low but your TIBC will be high.

What causes low iron in blood?

Iron deficiency is when the stores of iron in your body are too low. Common causes of iron deficiency in adults include not getting enough iron in your diet, chronic blood loss, pregnancy and vigorous exercise. Some people become iron deficient if they are unable to absorb iron.

How can I increase my ferritin level?

Consuming iron-rich foods improves iron stores and ferritin levels. These include green leafy vegetables, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, oatmeal, cereals, wheat germ, beans and tofu, lamb and beef, nuts, pumpkin and squash seeds, liver and mollusks, among others.

Do I need to fast for transferrin test?

Transferrin Blood Test

Preparation: Fasting for 10-12 hours required. Test Results: 3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.

What diseases cause low ferritin?

Summary of Diseases Associated With Lower Ferritin
  • Anemia [2]
  • Fatigue [3]
  • Hair loss [4, 5, 6, 7]
  • Fibromyalgia [8]
  • IBD [9]
  • Hypothyroidism [10]
  • Depression [11]
  • Anxiety [12]

What is considered severe anemia?

Mild anemia corresponds to a level of hemoglobin concentration of 10.0-10.9 g/dl for pregnant women and children under age 5 and 10.0-11.9 g/dl for nonpregnant women. For all of the tested groups, moderate anemia corresponds to a level of 7.0-9.9 g/dl, while severe anemia corresponds to a level less than 7.0 g/dl.

Can you have low ferritin but normal hemoglobin?

Iron deficiency without anemia can occur when a person has a normal hemoglobin, but below normal serum ferritin and/or transferrin saturation. Iron deficiency with anemia can occur when a person has low values of both serum ferritin and hemoglobin.

What happens if your ferritin is too low?

Low levels of ferritin lead to iron-deficiency anemia. This means you have too few red blood cells. Iron deficiency can come from a poor diet or blood loss. Or your body may have trouble absorbing iron from food.

What does low ferritin do to your body?

Low levels of ferritin lead to iron-deficiency anemia. This means you have too few red blood cells. Iron deficiency can come from a poor diet or blood loss. Or your body may have trouble absorbing iron from food.

Does low ferritin cause hair loss?

If you have low ferritin, this means that you also have an iron deficiency. When you have low ferritin, you may also experience hair loss. Unfortunately, it can be easy to overlook ferritin if you also have an underlying condition that may cause hair loss.

How long does it take to raise ferritin levels?

With double dose, 7 of 9 showed a ferritin rise in 2 days with return to subnormal levels within 6 days of discontinuing iron. This study indicates that standard treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults does not cause a rise in serum ferritin until hemoglobin levels are normal.

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