Ferritin Levels

[Jefner]

Recently had blood tests on kidneys and liver and also iron count cus worried due to not eating enough and properly. Just spotted my Ferritin results. Can't decide whether my level is good because I normally test that with Blue Horizon

19-Sep-2016 Serum ferritin - (JCAD5929) - Normal - No Action 71 ug/L 15.00 - 350.00ug/L

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

It doesn't matter what the range is, it's what point you are in the range.

That's a wide range. The ranges differ for pre and post menopausal women and again for men but I've not seen that on any of my BH tests. What was your result with the Blue Horizon test?

For ferritin it's said to be optimal half way through the range.

gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage...

Note that it does say ranges differ between labs.

[Jefner in reply to SeasideSusie]

seaside susie

all my results are on my profile

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jefner]

Well, that's a lot for me to plough through which I can't do at the moment.

[bluebug in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie the reason the ranges differ is due to what they find in groups of people they base the lab ranges on.

The level of 6 is lower than what the World Health Organisation (WHO)* recommends as acceptable.

According to a few things I've read about iron levels there is no good reason why the ranges should be different for optimal or even "ok" health. So in theory both males and females of different ages should have the same iron levels to have "ok" health, however in reality until women reach menopause and due to having more reasons to lose blood plus until kids stop growing, then their iron levels will be lower than men.

*The World Health Organisation has a lot of information about iron deficiency and anaemia though they are only interested in "ok" levels.

[bluebug]

How much iron are you taking daily or weekly to maintain your ferritin plus other iron levels?

If you have a known condition where your ferritin or iron levels fall then you need to take maintenance doses of iron which will be more than what is recommended for the average person of your age and sex.

For example I have a relative who has heavy bleeding on her periods so she is on 3 tablets of ferrous fumerate per day until she reaches the menopause. There as other posters on here report taking 2 or 3 ferrous fumerate tablets a week which is more than is recommended for their age and sex.

I think you have been told a few times by one of the admins that you need to take maintenance doses of vitamins, but it is the same for minerals.

[Jefner in reply to bluebug]

Bluebug

Iron levels are fine. To be honest i am more concerned about my continued weightloss

[bluebug in reply to Jefner]

You should start a new thread with a different title for that problem.