What is the relationship between ferritin and transferritin?
Ferritin and transferrin are two antagonists that regulate each other. Normally, the two proteins of the iron metabolism are in a balanced equilibrium. However, if there are disturbances in the iron metabolism, the concentrations of the two proteins can change rapidly.
A lowered ferritin value, for example, is an expression of an iron deficiency. Feedback mechanisms stimulate the body to produce more transferrin. This is the only way to reabsorb more iron from the gastrointestinal tract.
As a result, the iron level rises, the ferritin level also increases and the transferrin concentration can drop again. Conversely, increased ferritin is the expression for an excess of iron. In turn, the availability of transferrin is reduced so that less iron is absorbed from food.
However, disturbances in this regulation can still result in a constant or increasing supply of transferrin. This additionally increases the iron concentration in the body and can lead to iron surpluses.
