Low transferrin: what it means and what to do

Low transferrin means there is less iron-carrying protein in your blood. The most common cause is inflammation. Less often the liver, poor nutrition, protein loss or too much iron is behind it. On its own it says little: it is read with ferritin, saturation and CRP.

What low transferrin means

Your liver makes transferrin. When there is inflammation in your body, the liver makes more defence proteins, such as CRP, and less transferrin. This is the most frequent reason.

It also falls when the liver works poorly, when you eat too little or lose protein through your urine or gut. And it falls when there is too much iron: your body has less need to catch it.

Just below the limit, with normal ferritin and saturation, it is usually not a worry.

What causes low transferrin

The most common come first.

Symptoms of low transferrin

Low transferrin on its own causes no symptoms. If there are any, they come from the cause. For example:

If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor: the cause needs to be found.

Low transferrin and ferritin: how to read them together

Low transferrin and high ferritin, with high CRP: usually inflammation, not too much iron.

Low transferrin and high ferritin, with high saturation: your doctor thinks of iron build-up and usually repeats the tests fasting.

Low transferrin and low ferritin together are unusual: there may be an iron shortage together with inflammation or poor nutrition. Your doctor looks at the blood count and CRP.

Which tests to read alongside it

These tests help show where it comes from.

What your result means

The lower end of the scale, in mg/dL.

How to raise your transferrin

You do not raise it directly: you treat the cause. Where to start:

Do not take iron supplements on your own: if too much iron is the cause, they make things worse.

Low transferrin: when to worry

Talk to your doctor if:

Frequently asked questions

What causes low transferrin? The most common cause is inflammation. Then liver conditions, poor nutrition, protein loss through the kidneys or gut, and too much iron.

Low transferrin and high ferritin: what does it mean? Usually inflammation, especially if CRP is high. If saturation is high instead, your doctor thinks of iron build-up and repeats the tests.

Is low transferrin serious? Not in itself: it is a signal. The cause is what counts. Just below the limit, with normal ferritin and saturation, it is usually not a worry.

Low transferrin in pregnancy: is it normal? Transferrin usually rises in pregnancy, so a low result is unusual. Talk to your gynaecologist, who reads it with your other tests.

What should I eat if my transferrin is low? No food raises it directly. If you eat little, a diet with enough protein helps. Otherwise, the cause is what gets treated.

Sources