Buy a ferritin blood test and measure your iron status

Ferritin is the protein that stores iron, so your ferritin level can say something about your iron stores. For anyone training intensively that matters, as iron plays a role in transporting oxygen in your blood.

A ferritin test gives you a concrete data point, not a diagnosis, but data you can take further with your doctor. It may help put symptoms such as fatigue into context.

This test can be of interest if you:

• train intensively or do endurance sport, such as running, cycling, or triathlon
• feel tired or low on energy more often than your training load explains
• notice your recovery or endurance is slipping
• eat a plant-based diet and want to keep monitoring your iron stores

A low ferritin is among the more common deficiencies in endurance athletes, partly due to the demands of intensive training. This test can help you keep an eye on your iron status.

This test measures a single blood value:

• Ferritin: the protein that stores iron and reflects your iron stores. To learn more about this value, read our explanation of ferritin.

Your ferritin value shows how much iron your body has in reserve, something a single serum iron measurement does not always reveal.

A ferritin measurement can indicate whether your iron stores are on the low or high side. A low ferritin can point to depleted stores and is often linked to fatigue and reduced endurance, exactly what can get in the way of your performance.

A high ferritin can, among other things, fit with inflammation in the body. What your value means depends on your situation and is assessed by the doctor.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are more than 750 locations across the Netherlands, so you can often choose one close to home or your gym.

After ordering online, you pick a sample point and a time that suits you. The blood is drawn by trained staff.

You might consider this test when:

• you feel persistently tired while your training does not explain it
• you notice your endurance or recovery is slipping
• you want to back up your training plan with data
• you follow a plant-based diet and want to track your iron

Ferritin does not depend on a cycle, so you can have blood drawn at any time, which makes it easy to fit a measurement into your training schedule.

Your result shows your ferritin alongside a reference range, so you can see whether your value falls within the expected range. What counts as a normal ferritin level varies by lab, age, and sex, so numbers alone say little.

In athletes, a value just within range can still warrant attention if you have symptoms. That is why a BIG-registered doctor always reviews your result and places it in context.

For a ferritin measurement you usually do not need to fast. If you take iron supplements, ask your doctor whether it is wise to pause them the day before, as this can temporarily affect the value.

A hard training session or an inflammation can temporarily raise ferritin. So prefer a calm moment, not right after strenuous effort.

Your result is available online within a few working days, with your value, a reference range, and a clear explanation, so you can see where you stand and adjust your training accordingly.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.