Low ferretin?

[Bks429]

I just had a ferretin test. Normals are 16-288. My results are 29 ng. Any comments? Haven’t heard fm MD yet!

[Madlegs1]

Needs to be anywhere between 100 and even up to 400. For possible rls relief.

But please note that not everyone benefits from increased iron levels.

[Hidden]

Up to 50% of people with RLS benefit from it being at least 100ng/mL So, as Madlegs says, your RLS may improve if you can get it up.

You can either do this by taking oral supplements or by seeking an IV infusion.

[Bks429 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you both. Hopefully I will speak with my doctor tomorrow and she will come up with a plan??

[Bks429]

Thank you both. Hopefully I will speak with my doctor tomorrow and she will come up with a plan??

[Hidden in reply to Bks429]

I think you may be more likely to be able to get an IV infusion in the US. It's not so easy here is the UK. This is a quicker method, but not necessarily as safe.

I believe it depends on your insurance though, which is a mystery to me!

Good luck.

[DicCarlson]

That is a painfully low Ferritin level and could indeed be contributing to RLS. I had raging RLS with a Ferritin level of 49 and a % saturation of 20%. I took the supplement Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate and eliminated the severe RLS within a week, raising Ferritin to 105 within a month. My question is always WHY was it low? And more importantly how and why is it preventing iron from participating in needed brain biochemistry - the real RLS culprit. I am attributing my low Ferritin to a head injury (concussion) leading to sleep disturbances, then leg cramps, then the RLS.

I had hope that a probiotic that allegedly helps with iron absorption (LP299V), could participate in raising Ferritin levels. However, it appears to be a fool's errand - see this study on the health claims... efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.co...

That said, the iron supplement still worked but the LP299V didn't help in most studies. More on iron and RLS if you need it... hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolo...

Blood tests for iron explained... bloodtestsresults.com/iron-...

[Bks429]

I do not eat meat of any kind. Because that contribute to the low ferritin level?

[Bks429]

My doctor just emailed me my 29 ng is ‘normal!!!!’

[LotteM in reply to Bks429]

It is! For people without RLS....

[Hidden in reply to Bks429]

At least your doctor told you the number not just "It's normal, what do want to know the number for".

My GP surgery has been telling me that my low level of a certain glandular secretion is "normal" for years.

This is not very reassuring since although this low level is the normal "normal", I had the gland removed so even a low level is not normal. It might be "normal" for a normal person but for me, zero is normal, because I'm not "normal".

If you follow me.

Recently it's changed to "well it's not ideal but it's still low".