Low Ferritin with normal Folate & Iron?

[Jaxbeav]

Confused about results. Grateful for any clarification.

*Ferritin result 25 ug/l

Range: <15 - Iron deficiency likely

15-30 - Iron deficiency anemia with or without anemia of chronic disease may be present

Upper limit for ferritin is 150 ug/l

*Vit B12 result 104pmol/L

Range: >221 : adequate

148-221 : low

<148 : deficiency

*Serum folate result 18.8 nmol/L

Range: Deficient : <10

*Serum iron result 24.9

Range: 10.7-32.2

*S Magnesium result 0.74

Range: 0.77-1.03

[fbirder]

Your ferritin is near the top of the grey range where iron deficiency anaemia may be present.

Your B12 is, however, very low and needs treatment.

[Jaxbeav in reply to fbirder]

Thank you fbirder for your feedback. I am supplementing with B12 using transdermal patch and sublingual tablet and will test again after a while. How long should one wait before retesting?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Ferritin is a protein that binds to to iron allowing the body to use it - as such levels of ferritin can be a good marker for iron deficiency but really need interpreting in the context of other measurements.

The same is true for a lot of other vitamins and minerals

folate and B12 are vitamins - your folate levels look okay - but as fbirder says your B12 is extremely low and needs to be treated.

Are you a began? if so could be dietary. If not then it would imply an absorption problem - which could also explain the borderline results on iron.

you can find a list of symptoms of B12 deficiency here

pernicious-anaemia-society....

as you will see there is a considerable overlap with thyroid symptoms

[Jaxbeav in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you Gambit62 for your response. I am not vegan but consume very little meat products, mainly fish and chicken occasionally.

My diet has changed considerably since I cut out gluten, dairy and sugar. I've also been avoiding green vegetables because of possible thyroid issues. I am supplementing with B12, magnesium and a liquid herbal iron tonic and will see if there is any improvement.

Thanks again.

[Jaxbeav]

This is my first few days since receiving my results. I haven't retested since starting. I am waiting to see my Dr.

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Jaxbeav]

I wonder if you'd be better off if you stop supplementing to allow time for you to visit your GP, discuss your results, and have any further investigations that you might need without artificially changing the results by supplementation.

[Jaxbeav]

Just started, waiting to see my dr.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

B12 books I found useful

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book is up to date with UK B12 guidelines.

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12; An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive book about B12 deficiency with lots of case studies.

Risk factors for PA and B12 deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/what-are...

b12deficiency.info/who-is-a...

Are you in UK? I'm asking because patterns of B12 treatment can vary from country to country.

Lots more B12 info in pinned posts on this forum.