Please comment on my ferritin,folate & B12 results

[Naomi8]

serum ferritin...50 ug/L...(11-200)

serum vitamin B12...1038 ng/L...(>140)

serum folate...>20 ug/L...(4.0)

I am regularly supplementing these & also D3 with K

Thank you for your feedback

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Naomi8 Ferritin needs to be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly and conversion to take place. Are you taking Vit C with each iron tablet?

B12 is good, you need to work out a maintenance dose to keep it around 900-1000.

Folate I suppose is good, I don't understand (4.0) it's not a range.

What's your current D3 level, it's recommended to be between 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council.

[Naomi8 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie

How much iron would you take a day to up my levels?I always take vit C with my iron.I find iron bisglycinate agrees best with me.I am experiencing bouts of deep fatigue & feelings of breathlessness,despite latest thyroid tests showing I am not under-medicated(am V slightly over-medicated)so my low iron levels would explain this.

My GP refused(again) to do vit D test,telling me to take D all year round.I have been taking 1000 iu for a few years,but upped it to 5,000(both with vitK 100mcgs)over the winter months.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Naomi8]

I didn't take iron supplements to raise my ferritin, I couldn't tolerate them, I've raised mine from 35 to 91 by eating liver once a week, so I'm not sure how much iron bisglycinate you would need.

I understand that if iron tablets are prescribed, then for low ferritin it's usually one (sometimes two) Ferrous Fumarate daily. FF contains 65mg elemental iron in each 210mg tablet, so see how that compares with the elemental iron content of yours.

You can do a home fingerprick blood spot test for £28 with City Assays to test your Vit D. It's recommended to test once or twice a year when supplementing to keep within the recommended range of 100-150nmol/L vitamindtest.org.uk/index.html

As you're taking D3, are you also taking Magnesium as this helps your body use the D3.

You can check out D3's cofactors here vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

[Naomi8 in reply to SeasideSusie]

many thanks for the info.yes I am taking magnesium bisglycinate.I have tried many types of iron eg Spatone makes me feel nauseous.ferrous fumarate isn't too bad,but ferrous bisglycinate is fine.I think eating liver once a week sounds a very good alternative to upping my dose,though..I will do the vit D test,thanks for that info.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Naomi8]

Just wondered if you got vitamin D tested yet

Also if your taking B12 do you also add good B complex (remember to stop taking any supplements with biotin in 3-5 days prior to any future blood tests - that's in most B complex )

Probiotics and bone broth both good for healing gut

[Naomi8 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon-Completely forgot re vitD testing.Memory like a sieve.Taking 2,000 with K most days.

Taking Bs individually but not biotin.

B12 & B6 in methylated form,also B5,B1,B2,B3.

On my 3rd month"ChucklingGoat" live goat milk kefir.Will do this once or twice a year.Been taking probiotic capsules for years,but convinced by Dr Mosely et al,not effective.

Also taking FOS.

Sending off for vit D test now!!

Going to eat chicken liver once a week when I move to Sussex from Cumbria next year,as will be near a source of organic chicken livers

[Naomi8]

Thank you SlowDragon.Just ordered vit D test

[Naomi8]

PS Organic chicken liver source is Waitrose!Its going to be my nearest supermarket.I am at present living at the end of the longest peninsular in the UK