Advice on how to increase ferritin please

[MidnightBlue]

My ferritin is bottom of the range, and I am very concerned. What form of iron supplementation works best? I have been taking Solgar 'gentle iron', ( with vit c) - although not regularly, but I have now had new blood results and realise I need to up the supplementation. Thank you

[Hidden]

Hi I'm sure you will get some expert advice on here - but it may be that you need to keep taking the iron daily to build it up. Most iron affects my stomach so if you have one that doesn't then maybe stick to that. I think someone advised me to take 1000mg of vit C with it to aid absorption. Also, don't drink tea at the same time as it hinders absorption. Some people suggest taking the supplement before food to maximise absorption, but this depends on how it affects your stomach.

Good luck, and hopefully some of the experts will advise more!

[MidnightBlue in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, yes I will avoid tea.

[Stourie in reply to MidnightBlue]

It isn't so much the tea but the milk that you put in it

[MidnightBlue in reply to Stourie]

I am vegan, so no milk! I think there is something in tea that interferes with iron absorption, my sister has been warning my dad not to drink tea with his meals for years.

[Stourie in reply to MidnightBlue]

You are right. Tea is grown in fluoride rich soil and we all know that fluoride isn't good for the thyroid unless it is hyper.

[Winegum2]

I take Ferrous Sulphate 3 x 200mg per day. I know that some people don't get on with it. Others have recommended Ferrous Fumerate.

[MidnightBlue in reply to Winegum2]

Thanks

[ClareLH]

I take floravital. It's a liquid iron formula with other vitamins, gluten free and has no preservatives so has to be kept in the fridge. When I first started to take it, it took a few days for my stomach to get used to it (nothing major) but then I was fine. The iron tablets I believe can cause stomach problems.

As it is liquid iron it's better absorbed but should be taken on an empty stomach and not at the same time as levothyroxine. I take it just before I go to bed.

[MidnightBlue in reply to ClareLH]

I typed a reply, but it seems to have disappeared! Does flora vital state it is gluten free? I am always careful to avoid gluten.

[ClareLH in reply to MidnightBlue]

Hi,

Yes, it's gluten free

[MidnightBlue in reply to ClareLH]

Brilliant, thanks

[Hidden]

Try ferrous fumerate, ferrous bisglycinate, Ferrochel (in the Solgar range) - there are plenty of options, there are more than that. You have not been taking enough. An adult can take quite a high dose safely, particularly if your ferritin is low. How low is it, by the way?

The best site on iron I have found is the official USA health site.

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/I...

British official sites are pathetic by comparison. In the US men are less likely to have iron deficiency than they are in the UK - maybe because of the Giant Plates of Meat so easily available there. But women still suffer from iron deficiency there.

You need supplementation, but don't over do it. Take it slowly, daily.

"Adults with normal intestinal function have very little risk of iron overload from dietary sources of iron [2]. However, acute intakes of more than 20 mg/kg iron from supplements or medicines can lead to gastric upset, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and faintness, especially if food is not taken at the same time [2,5]. Taking supplements containing 25 mg elemental iron or more can also reduce zinc absorption and plasma zinc concentrations [3,70,71]."

You can take 40mg daily if you are low without fear, but you might find as I did that you feel dizzy on high amounts.

Do you have any idea why your iron stores are low? Are you vegetarian, have heavy periods, gastro problems, etc etc??

It is very, very important that you get your levels up if you are low. Take it with high amounts of vit C, take some zinc at a different time of the day, and I would personally suggest that you also make sure to have plenty of antioxidants while you are getting your iron levels up.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The same US site says it is OK to go up to 45 - so build up slowly and see how your body reacts.

"The FNB has established ULs for iron from food and supplements based on the amounts of iron that are associated with gastrointestinal effects following supplemental intakes of iron salts (see Table 3). The ULs apply to healthy infants, children, and adults. Physicians sometimes prescribe intakes higher than the UL, such as when people with IDA need higher doses to replenish their iron stores [5].

Table 3: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Iron [5]* Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation

19+ years 45 mg 45 mg 45 mg 45 mg

[MidnightBlue in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your helpful reply. I agree I have not been taking enough. My ferritin is right at the bottom of the range, 10 I think. I also think, from googling today, that it might be also linked to having low stomach acid.

[milkwoman in reply to MidnightBlue]

There is an easy test for low stomach acid. You mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water and drink first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything (except water). Time how long it takes for you to belch. Time up to 5 minutes. If you have not belched within 5 minutes, stop timing.

If your stomach is producing adequate amounts of stomach acid you will belch within 2-3 minutes.

I did this test and determined I had low stomach acid. I started taking Betaine HCL after high protein meals. I only needed 2-3 capsules and only had to do this for a couple of weeks.

[MidnightBlue in reply to milkwoman]

Interesting, I will try that, thanks!

[Susi1691]

I have taken a few different kind of iron for a while , but the only one that helped my ferritin to go from 5 to 118 where it is now was Ferrograd C taken together with Lysine . For many years nothing really helped me . I glad I found it, I hope it helps you too

[MidnightBlue in reply to Susi1691]

Thanks, sounds hopeful, I will google it

[Susi1691]

Hi,

I have had very low ferritin for a while. When that was discovered it was at 5. I tried a few different iron supplements for 6 months at a time to find that the level had increased only to 30. My doctor advised me to try Ferrograd C 2 times a day for 6 months ( taken together with Lysine ) and it has finally increase to 122.

It has been a joy to find it finally worked !

I hope it helps you

[MidnightBlue in reply to Susi1691]

Brilliant, I am so pleased you have found something that works.

[milkwoman in reply to Susi1691]

Susi1691 -

Did you have any stomach upset with the Ferrograd C? Also, is the Ferrograd C prescription only? I'm in the U.S. and my research only brings up drug pages but not any where to purchase. I am not sure I would tolerate this kind of iron. For now, I'm going to double up on what I have been taking and wait until I get some more info from my rheumy as I don't understand why all of a sudden, my ferritin levels have dropped so sharply. I'm waiting on an APS diagnosis (I already have SLE, SJogrens and Hypothyroidism). I've been reading that low ferritin can be caused by any one of these. Once I get diagnosed I want to be referred to an APS specialist and hopefully then, I'll get some answers.

Take care .

[Susi1691 in reply to milkwoman]

Hi,

No, I never had any problem with Ferrograd C . One can buy here in Uk at the counter. Before I took it , my ferritin was really low, as I mention before, and did many tests to find out the reason why, but my doctors never did. Iron might cause constipation, so I make sure to take some probiotics also.

All the best

[Susi1691]

Sorry , I didnt think it had posted first time around !

[milkwoman]

I've tried many iron supplements to raise ferritin and many did absolutely nothing for me. I wasted a lot of time and money! Finally, I hit upon a combo that works for me: Ferrex-150 (150 mg of elemental iron in one capsule) and Cardiovascular Labs Ferritin Bioavailable Iron 5 mg. I take these mid-day along with 1000 mg of Vit C (mid- day so they don't interfere with thyroid meds).

I started out taking 1 each per day and then, for a few months increased to 2 each per day (staying with 1000 mg Vit C). I'm back to 1 each per day since I've been feeling much better.

No stomach upset or GI issues wth these supplements.

The issue with many iron supplements is they don't contain a high enough level of elemental iron to make a difference. It takes a lot to increase ferritin levels.

I'm getting my levels tested this coming Friday. I started supplementing when my ferritin was at 18. The last time I was tested it was at 47. I've been feeling much better so I expect to see my levels increased even more.

I will update this post when I get my results.

[humanbean in reply to milkwoman]

Be aware that you should stop supplementing iron 5 - 7 days before testing. Also, get the blood drawn as early as possible in the morning, having fasted overnight. Drinking water before the test is fine.

[milkwoman in reply to humanbean]

Yes! I did know that but thanks for the reminder as I would have forgotten! 😊

[humanbean in reply to milkwoman]

[MidnightBlue in reply to milkwoman]

Really helpful, thanks

[23_molly]

Have you received a diagnosis of kidney disease? Have you seen a hematologist? Typically when Ferritin is low Hgb, TIBC, and %sat are, too. Oral administration of iron is both inefficient and difficult to tolerate. IV infusions are the way to go. 1000-1500 mg. are administered over several hours. During that time you are free to read, use a computer, sleep, listen to music, or all of the above. Levels return to normal, and you will feel like your old self within two to three weeks.

Best of luck.

Molly

USA

[MidnightBlue in reply to 23_molly]

Thank you

[milkwoman]

Well, it looks like my "magic combo" of iron supplements is either (a). no longer working or (b). I shouldn't have stopped taking double doses. I got my results today from Friday's blood draw and my ferritin level has DROPPED considerably! I am SHOCKED! I thought I was doing so well.

Ferritin: 27 ng/dL (30 - 202)

Serum Iron: 67 ug/dL (40 - 150)

Transferrin: 225 mg/dL (200 - 340)

TIBC: 284 ug/dL (250 - 430)

% Sat: 24 (12 - 42)

Back on 4/22/2015 my results were:

Ferritin: 47 ng/dL (30 - 202)

Serum Iron: 66 ug/dL (40 - 150)

Transferrin: 218 mg/dL (200 - 340)

TIBC: 276 ug/dL (250 - 430)

% Sat: 24 (12 - 42)

So in three months time, WITH supplementation, my ferritin has dropped by 20. Could explain my fatigue of late. I don't really know what the other values mean and if anything looks "off" despite being in the "normal ranges".

I'm being tested for APS and have only received partial results back but it is looking like I will have a confirmed diagnosis. I already have Lupus (SLE) and Sjogren's and I'm hypothyroid so I'm really not sure which one of these are affecting the ferritin. For years I've been complaining about my blood results (standard CBC profile) and no one has listened (GP, Hematologist, Endo, Gastro, Rheumy). They all think I am okay.

I'm hoping to get referred to an APS specialist by my rheumy once the other APS results come back. Maybe then I will find some answers. I'm also going to post my results in the APS forum when I get them all back.

[MidnightBlue in reply to milkwoman]

Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear your levels have dropped. I am currently trying Solgar iron biscligate (excuse spelling) and floravital. I am also taking cider vinegar before my main meal, and lycine (again excuse spelling!). I am going to be tested in a few weeks, so I should see if it is effective.

[milkwoman in reply to MidnightBlue]

Good luck! I'm not sure you will see significant changes in only a few weeks but if you show any sort of increase in ferritin you'll know your headed in the right direction. Remember that you have to stop supplementing before your next test.

The battle continues....