Confused with ferritin and Fe deficiency anemia

[xadmin]

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Guys, why do level of ferritin decreased with Fe deficiency anemia? If the ferritin protein is already there in the cell and the body needed more Fe, couldn't the ferritin protein just unload the Fe to the body and thus you would have an unchanged level in ferritin? Why then with Fe deficiency, do you have decreased level of ferritin as well?

 

[gutonc]

I'm going to answer this then close it because this is not a forum for homework help.

Ferritin assays only measure the iron loaded form not the unbound apoferritin form.