What could cause normal B12, elevated active B12, low ferritin, and high iron-binding capacity?

[Lita123]

Hello,

I recently got some lab results and am trying to understand the possible causes behind the following patterns:

Normal B12: My total vitamin B12 levels are within the normal range.

Elevated Active B12: However, my active B12 is elevated.

Low Ferritin: My ferritin levels are low, indicating possible iron deficiency.

High Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): My TIBC is high, which could suggest iron deficiency as well.

I’m curious if these results could point to any specific conditions or if there might be a particular cause I should be aware of. Could this combination suggest something like iron deficiency anemia, liver or kidney issues, or something else entirely? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences you can share, as I plan to follow up with my doctor but wanted to get some initial thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

[Nackapan]

In the UK the cut off for ferritin us very low .Anything under 30 in alot of medical opinions needs more investigation or treatment .

When you see your doctor ask for the whole picture of iron and an explanation of your results.

Tell them your diet .

They never seem to ask!!

Also go by your symptoms which is probably why you had the blood test in the first place.

Was vit D ,folate ,and everything else okay .

Get a paper copy for your reference.

[Orchard33]

Low ferritin is a reliable indicator of low iron stores. In my experience this doesn't show up as medically recognised anaemia until you're a long way down the iron deficiency road and already have the symptoms of anaemia. My rule of thumb is, anything below the range mid point is too low and can indicate sub-optimal functioning.