Recent Iron test values and next steps

[PoorRichard]

Hi all - I added Iron Bisglycinate (aka Ferrous Bis..., aka "Gentle Iron") 25 mg several months ago. I started with daily and soon switched to alternate days. I happily reported my RLS was significantly improved. Today I received lab results for iron. Here is a comparison of last year vs. today:

Iron [June 2021: 99] -> [March 2022] 110

Iron Saturation 28 -> 38

TIBC 352 -> 287

Ferritin -> 113 -> 284

My sleep specialist doctor is concerned about Ferritin exceeding the standard limit (300 for adult male from her note) and wants me to change from alternating days of iron supplement to once weekly, as a maintenance dose. I've not seen that recommendation anywhere on this forum. I'm interested in your thoughts.

[SueJohnson]

My ferritin is over 500 and my doctor and what I have read is that there is no problem with this although he did have me stop taking iron. I think your doctor's advice is good.

[PoorRichard in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you.

[PoorRichard in reply to SueJohnson]

After a bit of Google-ing, it seems the medical community consensus is >300 or >400 is a problem. E.g., US nih.gov: "Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal." 500 would seem dangerously high. That said, after a few days of skipping oral iron supplement, I'm feeling different - and not in a good way. Sort of "pre-RLS" sensations.

[SueJohnson in reply to PoorRichard]

I looked at that article. Notice as you yourself quoted, it was "many laboratories consider" not that doctors nor scientific studies considered that. 500 is not dangerously high. My doctor was not at all concerned about it.

[PoorRichard in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue - that was just an example. Every article I saw said 300-400. My doctor included. Sigh - but what do they know. :-}

[LotteM in reply to PoorRichard]

"Abnormal" is different from "dangerously high". It just means it is more rare than the normal values. Difficult to say for a layperson what is too high. If you really want to know do try to get in touch with a heamatologist.

[Madlegs1]

Having ferritin up to 1000 is of no serious concern.

However,in your case, it has achieved its purpose- relief of symptoms,. So you could lay off the iron for a while, or just weekly.

Your rls symptoms will guide you?

[PoorRichard in reply to Madlegs1]

Sounds reasonable!

[PoorRichard in reply to Madlegs1]

>1000? That is not what I'm seeing online. What I'm reading in the medical community is >400 is a problem. 1000 would seem dangerously high. But already with less iron intake, I'm feeling like RLS is creeping up on me, last night I had sort of "pre-RLS" sensations.

[Lambretta175]

Hi,could I ask you if your results were given to you or did you have to ask for them?Are you in the UK?

[PoorRichard in reply to Lambretta175]

I am in the USA. My test results were published on the patient portal and I could easily access them. Very convenient.

[DicCarlson]

I used Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate to treat my SEVERE RLS and it did take away the severe aspect - almost immediately. I started w/every day, then feathered it to every other day, then twice a week. My level went from 49 to 105 in 3 months. I haven't taken it in 2 years - no clue what caused the deficiency. Recent blood work shows Ferritin in the 90-110 range

[PoorRichard in reply to DicCarlson]

Thank you. Assuming you're symptom-free? At 90 Ferritin I would not be. But I'm happy at 284.

[Bganim1947]

I’ve been on it for years, taking it once a day. My GP told me to take it every other day; it works really well.