Ferritin Levels

[sos1965]

Can anyone advise me on the best level my ferritin should be please, it was 36 about 3 months ago and now 42, my hair has thinned so much I can't seem to do a lot with it, please can some one advise me.

Thanks x

[bluebug]

You want to get it to about 60 to stop your hair falling out and around 80 for it to grow back healthily. Generally you want it around 100.

The treatment for low ferritin levels is here - patient.info/doctor/non-ana...

Scroll down to the section with the title "Management"

Be aware if you have low vitamin B12 levels, low vitamin D levels and your thyroid hormone levels aren't optimal then your hair will still fall out. Plus if you are on any other medication, this medication may be causing your hair loss as virtually every drug has the side effect of hair loss.

[sos1965 in reply to bluebug]

Thanks for the link will look at now.

[108Optimist in reply to bluebug]

Hiya Blue Bug! Im curious where you get 100 for ferretin from? I work with integrative medical practitioners and they recommend 70-90 optimal for ferretin. This is because iron is an oxidiser, eg causes cellular damage when its too high (as im sure you know already). 70-90 optimal I would say, especially for women.

[108Optimist]

You have done well to get it up to 42 in that time - it can be a process!

I have watched my hair thinning for years and been told its because I brush my hair too hard SAY WHAT?!! or tie a pony tail too tight SAY WHAT AGAIN??!!! and of course that I am imagining it. Its not too bad at the moment.

Are you purposely trying to raise it, iron, with supplements or food? If so how? and what?

Bluebug gives you some very sound advice about the other nutrients required. In addition, if you have any gut issues (like me) then you may not absorb the max whatever you are ingesting. There are solutions for this of course, like taking digestive enzymes, and working on healing the gut. I wont go into it more, I could be here all day - but let me know if youre interested in knowing more about any of that.

My ferretin is exactly the same 36 SIX months ago and finally 42 by taking NDT, ferrous bisglycinate, vit C and more. I also started eating organic meat products - something is helping, i dont know what. I have a gut thing called SIBO so I avoid some foods, add others, and more supplements, to help heal my intestines and hopefully absorb better.

I guess someone has told you to leave 4 hours between iron and thyroid meds.

Eating plenty of fats like avo nuts seeds oliveoil, cocnoutoil and proteins, provides your body with building blocks of hair, and Im sure you already know that a low fat diet is not that helpful for most people??

Take care, not fun when your hair does that.

[Daffidols in reply to 108Optimist]

Hi Claire-Bhavani, I am v interested in learning about the protocol you are following to heal the gut. Many thanks,

[108Optimist in reply to Daffidols]

Hiya Daffodols. .....with the gut it can get complex. So I would first ask you if you have any gut symptoms or food intolerances or other diagnoses. If so, what? For how long? What have you tried to make it better andwhat did and didn't help?

Personally, right now I avoid nuts gluten and most dairy except some cheese 😯😯 I avoid soy and rarely have an egg. I make bone broth from organic roast chicken leftovers and never drunk alcohol or added sugar except honey aND not into junk or takeaways. It's been a very long process and still going. I have sibo-c which may have been caused by the hypo. So you could say that taking ndt and having a daily poop is part of my gut healing as motility is essential! ! Once I am sustained regular I will work again on killing sibo off using the gaps diet or scd diet. You can see those online.

I wrote this article that details top food intolerances

thesistahood.org.uk/2016/06...

So, I can tell you my own story but yours will be different. I can potentially say more if you let me know your specifics. ..

Take care 😀😀

[Daffidols]

Hi Claire, thank you for your detailed reply. I am trying various 'things' to try to heal. Like you, no gluten, dairy, soy, rubbish food, alcohol etc etc. I am intolerant of many things, all meat and meat derived products - so you can see I am quite limited.

Glutamine helps too. Good probiotics and fermented foods, kefir etc. Still not there however....I ask myself .. how long does this take, what does it take.

I guess we just keep on battling.

Kindest wishes and great health.