What would be the best way to raise ferritin levels?

[Dolansan]

Would appreciate some advice on how to safely raise ferritin levels. My GP states that my iron is great, but I’ve been experiencing increased shortness of breath and fatigue which may be linked to an iron deficiency. Here are my numbers:

Ferritin 21.2 ng/mL (10-291)

Total iron: 116 ug/dL (50-212)

Iron Binding Capacity: 346 (270-400)

Unbound Iron: 230 ug/dL (155-355)

% Saturation: 33 % (15-55)

According to online literature, I may still be iron deficient.

I’ve started supplementing with Floravital 15 mg twice a day 30 min before meals, but it has been constipating me quite a lot (I have a sensitive stomach). My plan is to start taking it with food.

I plan to retest in a month. However, would appreciate any advice as to optimal dosage, best brands, reducing constipation. I’ve been taking OJ with floradix.

Thank you!

[Nackapan]

I take spartane 2 or 3 times a day (5mg)OR Solgar gentle iron 20mg OR ferrous fumerate 210mg

My Gp also was not concerned when my ferritin had dropped to 29ng/l from 61 after b12 injections started.

I asked her advice though as had also read and been told by another doctor ferritin levels below 50 can cause symptoms

She prescribed 320 ferrous fumerate with folic acid. This made me ill.

So I then took ferrous fumerate210mg

every other day.

My symptoms went at a level of about 42ng/ml...shaking . Breathless restless legs ..however took nearly a year to maintain my level at about 54 ng/l. I seem to be okay from 40ng/l . If hair loss is involved it should rectify that too.

The G.p says to continue for maintenance. My bloods are done af 4-6 months now.

Were done 3 monthly. Isysk retest timing. A month too soon usually.

Do discuss with Gp. Who can interpret all iron results .

Mulitivits also can contain 14mg

If youve got an older result it's a good benchmark.

Everyone seems to be okay at different levels.

Also take iron away from any caffeine .

Vitamin C can enhance absorbtion.

[deniseinmilden]

Thank you your blood results. They are pretty similar to mine and I have a number of background symptoms that are also similar to yours. I have a dx of chronic pancreatitis rather than SIBO but hope to get my SIBO symptoms checked out soon.

The best source of iron is red meat and fish because it is the only source of haem iron (in the UK), which you might need if your body isn't able to convert the sort of iron that is in supplements to the haem iron your body needs to carry oxygen in your blood.

Even though I can take high levels of iron supplements this is without good effect and I need to eat red meat and fish at least twice a day to keep my iron anaemia symptoms under control.

Calcium is an iron antagonist and sources of each should be kept 2 hours apart for maximum iron absorption. Look up the things you eat online to see how much iron and calcium they contain. Broadly speaking the best source of calcium is dairy products and fortified foods but there are always surprises.

A max dose of Floradix has no more iron than a basic multivitamin and mineral supplement and Floravital only a tad more - definitely not enough to treat any imbalance or cause any stomach problems to the end that your constipation is more likely to be due to the other ingredients in it! To give you an idea, the prescribed dose to correct iron anaemia has 16 to 32 times more iron in it than is available in the Floravital!

Supplements are usually most effective taken with food from the main nutrient they supply, or a meal containing it, because your intestines are best prepared to absorb them.

I use Solgar Gentle Iron 20mg capsules because they are the most bioavailable and easily tolerated source of non-meat iron and when I'm OK I take 4 capsules a day to maintain my levels with one of my meat or fish meals and keep everything with calcium in it two hours or more from this.

If I get breathless I increase this intake and make sure I have 3 meals of red meat or fish to go with them.

I don't like meat or fish much and its expensive but needs must.

Good luck with it!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

ferritin is a protein that binds to iron so your body can use it. Whilst ferritin levels are generally a good indicator of iron status they don't tell the whole story and there are some cases of GPs acting solely on ferritin levels and their patients ending up with iron toxicity.Whilst your ferritin levels may be low they are still in normal range and the other indicators of iron status are all well within range.

There are many things that can cause the symptoms you mention so its a bit of a leap to assume it must be iron deficiency. I think you should talk to your GP again about other possibilities and see what a pharmacist suggests if you are determined to supplement.