Ferritin readings

[wildatlantic]

I wonder if someone could explain to me my ferritin blood results.

The results say - ferritin 36ng/ml in a range of 11-300 .

What does this mean in terms of low or normal levels and whether I should take iron.

Thanks in advance!

[SueJohnson]

You want your ferritin to be over 100 and your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45%. Improving it to that helps 60% of RLS patients. If your ferritin is less than 75 as yours is then take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Take it every other day preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach. If you have problems with constipation switch to iron bisglycinate. When your ferritin is between 75 and 100 or if your transferrin saturation is below 20, you may need an iron infusion since iron isn't absorbed as well above 75. If you take magnesium take it at least 2 hours apart since it interferes with the absorption of iron. Don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron. It takes several months for the iron tablets or iron infusion to slowly raise your ferritin. Ask for a new blood test after 3 months.

[wildatlantic in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue. Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.

[DicCarlson]

That seems painfully low. Try supplementing with Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate, also called gentle iron. This form is kind on the gastro tract - no constipation. Read more on test results here...

bloodtestsresults.com/iron-...

[wildatlantic]

Thank you DicCarlson. Yes I’m going to try the iron supplements and really hoping that that will sort this out for me. I have always had restless legs as have my father and sister. But just in the last year and a half I have had bouts of it that I found difficult to cope with. I’m 54 now and wonder has it been triggered to a new level with menopause or HRT. Regarding the ferritin.. I have had five pregnancies and I now remember that in all of them I was told that I had low ferritin when my iron was checked although iron itself was ok. I don’t think I suffered to any extent with RLS during the pregnancies..

[SueJohnson in reply to wildatlantic]

Yes HRT can definitely make RLS worse because of the estrogen. You were lucky on your pregnancies. The reason probably is that you hadn't developed RLS yet. I had 3 pregnancies with no problems and didn't develop RLS until I was in my early 70s.