Ferritin - anyone know of a vegan supplement?

[thyr01d]

Hi all

Having low ferritin my GP kindly remembering that I am vegan has suggested I might like to find out which supplement is vegan before she writes a prescription.

Do any of you know?

I have tried googling but no success yet.

Thanks

[BadHare]

My friend asked her pharmacist for brands of Vegan iron, they're usually very helpful!

There are also lots of specialist Vegan shops, & the Vegan society might have some they recommend.

Mel

[thyr01d in reply to BadHare]

Thanks Leverette that's a very good idea, the pharmacist should know which is on prescription too.

I had no luck with the Vegan society, low ferritin being so unusual in vegans. If your friend is vegan and low, I'd be interested to know if she knows why. Having had a hysterectomy at 34 I can't think of any reason why I'm low and I'd always rather fix the cause than the symptoms.

Cheerio

[BadHare in reply to thyr01d]

I'm sure you've already done this, but I've just googled "ferritin supplement for vegans".

Lots of ads, as usual, as well as these articles about iron:

extension.oregonstate.edu/c...

veganhealth.org/articles/iron

vegannaturopath.wordpress.c...

healthyeating.sfgate.com/im...

I think the upshot is, if you have enough iron & vitamin C to process it, your ferritin levels should go up.

rawfoodsupport.com/read.php...

I'm veggie, aside from a daily grain of NDT, & try to ignore what's in supplements, though I go for a veggie option if available.

I have always felt better if I eat dark greens like cavolo nero (black kale). I take an iron tablet with fruit, if I think I haven't had enough from my diet. Maybe a dark green smoothie a day might help, & if that doesn't raise your levels, ask your GP why you might not be producing ferritin, when you have sufficient iron intake.

Mel

[thyr01d in reply to BadHare]

Hi Mel and thanks.

I did ask why the ferritin might be low and GP didn't have an answer but reliable sources state that under-active thyroid can cause low ferritin levels and conversely the thyroid needs high levels of ferritin to function properly, so I think that's the answer and presumably as my ferritin levels rise the thyroid will function better and that will be a self-improving circuit.

My level is 15 in a range of 10 - 300 so GP advises that over the counter meds and diet alone will not correct this, so I need to find a vegan ferritin supplement that is on the NHS prescribing list.

[BadHare in reply to thyr01d]

No luck with your pharmacist?

I'll ask my local Veg group.

M

[thyr01d in reply to BadHare]

Many thanks Leverette, I really appreciate it.

[Spareribs in reply to thyr01d]

"low ferritin being so unusual in vegans"?

Iron is essential for the production of blood.

well, I've seen it reported more times than I can count!

vegsoc.org/iron

watch those B12 levels too, it's also a vital ("essential for life") mineral (cobalt) not found in vegetables. See Dr Chandy's explanation...

b12d.org/

Ok folate is from 'foliage' but that can mask low B12 too!

- please read up to feel better! J x

(& don't forget Vit D!)

[thyr01d in reply to Spareribs]

Thanks so much Spareribs, that's interesting that you've seen many vegans with low ferritin.

I'm already supplementing with B12 and was a little concerned about the folate masking low B12 but for now I think I'd better go with what the GP advises, she's new and has been extremely good so far and has already helped the thyroid problem a lot.

Surgery doesn't check vit D levels.