Do i need to increase my ferritin levels? 45.8 (20-150)

[kingyl]

If so how much do I need to take daily? And what's the best over the counter supplement?

Also serum foliate 25.76 (8.83-60.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

kingyl Yes, indeed you do need to increase your ferritin. It needs to be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work (your own or thyroid meds) and half way through range is recommended, some people say 70-100.

The best over the counter supplement is the one that suits you. If you can manage with Ferrous Fumarate (some people experience constipation and upset tummy) then buy it from Amazon and take one tablet twice daily. Take each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Take 4 hours away from thyroid meds, other supplements and meds as iron affects their absorption.

If you can't tolerate FF then look at Iron Bisglycinate as it is more gentle but has less elemental iron and is more expensive. Solgar Gentle Iron is one brand.

Folate should be at least half way through it's range so with that range it should be 35+.

I see from your previous post that your B12 is 506. Although this is considered adequate it is recommended that B12 is at the top of it's range, even 900-1000. You might want to supplement with Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 1000mcg daily for the B12 and when we take B12 we should take a B Complex to balance the B vits. If you get a B Complex with methylfolate that will help boost your folate level.

Don't start all supplements at the same time, introduce one, give it a week or so and if no reaction then add the next one, etc. That way if there is a problem you will know what caused it.

[kingyl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Can you get a b12 complex in one tablet? Or are they separate?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to kingyl]

You can but as stomach acid destroys B12 it's best to -supplement B12 with sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges as they're dissolved under the tongue so go directly into the blood stream and take a separate B Complex.

I forgot to say, if you get the Ferrous Fumarate then finish the packet (usually 84 tablets) then retest to see where your level is.

You can also boost ferritin by eating liver which is how I've increased mine. Eating liver once a week is so much easier than trying to fit iron supplements around thyroid meds and other supplements.

[Maribee in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes you are SO RIGHT.....supplements ARE NOT THE WAY TO GO ...........you can control your iron levels..,which are pretty near normal anyway with FOOD......naturally..

Good luck.

[helvella Administrator in reply to kingyl]

Many B-complex products contain some B12 - usually the sort of level that is regarded as daily requirement. Trouble is, if you have impaired absorption you need much, much larger doses.

They might exist, but I am not aware of any B-complex products that contain the high levels (500, 750, 1000 or more micrograms) of B12 that might be needed.

You will also find that many B-complex products contain the B12 as cyanocobalamin which is not always the best form to take. Of course, some might contain hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin, but again, probably not enough.

[Maribee]

The ideal is 50......why dyou want to increase them ?

Do you have GH ?

150 is the safe level....over that and you might start storeing iron...that can damage just about every organ and joint in your body...starting with your liver...you do t want that.....

[humanbean in reply to Maribee]

A level of 50 may be ideal for healthy people. But higher levels are needed for people with hypothyroidism.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

tpauk.com/main/article/low-...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

All the above links recommend an iron level of at least 70 for people with hypothyroidism.

Although not specifically related to hypothyroidism, the Iron Disorders Institute has this to say about the reference range for ferritin :

Presently the Iron Disorders Institute Medical and Scientific Advisory Board members are discussing the issue of establishing an ideal serum ferritin range of 50-150ng/mL

for adults.

Source : irondisorders.org/Websites/...

So that would suggest that a level of 50 is right at the bottom of the ideal range.

[Maribee in reply to humanbean]

I also have hypothyroidism.., my consultant is very happy with my iron levels...or he will be when I get down to 50.

It us the saturation level which is more important than the serum kevel anyway......maybe check on that too before mucking about with supplements.

[Maribee]

I only know about a female. Reading 20-150 is OK.

I have GH (iron overload) so have venesections to reduce down to reading of 50.

[kingyl in reply to Maribee]

I have no idea, it's all new to me I'm learning from the experts on here. I'm in range but on the low side of normal apparently

[bluebug in reply to Maribee]

You have a specific problem which most people don't have. Therefore you need to keep your iron level low as you absorb and store more of it than others.

Lots of women particularly those who are pre-menopausal have the opposite issue e.g. they can't keep their iron levels high enough so they end up with fatigue, breathlessness and hair loss. Add in hypothyroidism and it's even worse.

I actually get breathless if my ferritin level is as low as the OP. (And I've had full iron panels done due to this oddness.)

[Maribee in reply to bluebug]

Yes...strange how both issues have symptoms of fatigue hair loss etc etc...it is a complicated syndrome, mine is also even more complicated by the fact that I have not one but two inherited medical conditions, the other being Nuerofibromatosis where you get tumours on the spinal cord brain and soft tissue.....it's even more if a problem than the Geamachromatosis

[Maribee in reply to Maribee]

heamachromatosis which is easily controllable....as I'm e wasn't dealt with when flagged up though I now find I have cirrhosus of the liver....lucky me eH ?

[Maribee]

Sounds OK to me.....when you have venesections for iron overload the target they go for us 50........that is the ferritin serum level.....you are only just under.....have some steak...or...the meat with the highest level in is Venison........that'l do the trick....stay away from supplements...you could do more harm than good.

Happy christmas and stop worrying.

[SeaVee79]

I always advice people do get a full iron panel done (can get them for only £30 fingerprick test). I always have lowish ferritin so I supplemented for a year and my levels didn't really move. I had a full iron panel done and it turns out my iron levels are actually really high and over the range. I need to go see the doc but I know they won't pay any attention due to private tests and normal ferritin!