High Ferritin - advice please.: Hi, I have had my... - Thyroid UK

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High Ferritin - advice please.

Jillycee profile image
22 Replies

Hi, I have had my results back from Blue Horizons again. I have the Thyroid 11 done every 6 months to keep a check on my levels. I have been feeling really good for the last 2 tests and wasn't going to re-do them as I felt so well, but thought I should keep up with the routine so that I can monitor B12 and Vitamin D and adjust my dose accordingly.

I have attached a copy of my Thyroid 11 test results below and they have come back with High Ferritin. I just wanted some advice if possible on what this actually means and what I can do to reduce this level?

My B12 is apparently too high, but I'm not worried about that as I have been advised previously that optimal health can be around 1000.

Also, my Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies are high, but they have reduced massively over the last few tests and my Thyroglobulin Antibodies are now in normal range (I presume this is due to 100% gluten free diet?)

After these results, I am planning on continuing with 1000 of Vitamin B12 and B12 complex and also start taking Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 for the next 6 months.

I have also had the Well woman test for the last couple of times so that I can monitor Liver, kidney and heart and all tests for livery and kidney were normal.

Thanks

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Jillycee profile image
Jillycee
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researcherUK profile image
researcherUK

It is very good to be positive about the results and to know the plan ahead. I hope you are feeling very well, too.

Yes, a gluten-free diet will most certainly help in the reduction of antibodies.

A gluten-free diet will increase the absorption of all minerals and including iron.

Your ferritin levels are not alarmingly high.

Ferritin levels fluctuate and they tend to increase with an infection or an inflammation. However, if you have been supplementing it is best to stop and as you have said, it is best to retest in 6 months.

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee in reply to researcherUK

Thank you researcherUK for your reply. I haven't actually been supplementing ferritin as my levels have always been ok, so I'm not sure what to do to reduce my levels

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Jillycee

Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal.

Is this the first time that they came high? A full iron profile at the next test will give you the bigger picture.

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee

Yes it is. My level was 97.6 (20-150 ug/L) back in October 2016, then it went up slightly to 101 (20-150 ug/L) in April this year and now its gone up to 151 (13-150 ug/L) this month.

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Jillycee

What about your diet? has it changed? are you diabetic? Several factors can be involved and lead to elevated ferritin.

It is also important to remember that elevated ferritin does not equal iron overload and it can be caused by inflammation.

Ferritin is stored in many types of cells, including liver cells. You've mentioned earlier your plan to have a liver function test.

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee

No my diet hasn't changed at all. I've had the liver function test this month and all of that came back normal, so I'm a bit stumped as to what I'm doing wrong :)

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Jillycee

Let me check a few sources and I shall get back to you :-)

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee in reply to researcherUK

Excellent, thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to researcherUK

I am interested in this.

I have always had above range ferritin. I believe this can be side effect of Hashimoto's (more unusual than low level)

I have never supplemented, but I do eat liver regularly

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to SlowDragon

I’m interested too. My ferritin is always high my most recent being 189.2 with a range of 20-150, that was back in May, although I’ve been at 219.4 in the past. I’ve Just done another Thyroid 11 today - I went GF two years ago and my antibody levels have really dropped which is what I was hoping for - so I’ll be interested to see what happens.

I’ve got RA and IBS as well as Graves so I’ve always just put my high ferritin levels down to inflammation. If I wasn’t taking hydroxychloroquine for the arthritis I’d go and give some blood to lower my ferritin but I don’t think I can give blood because of the hydroxy.

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK

Dysmetabolic Hyperferritinemia, known as insulin resistance, seems to fit especially in the absence of genetic mutation for HFE hemochromatosis and exclusion of other secondary causes of iron overload.

It is characterized by the presence of elevated serum ferritin, but with normal transferrin saturation in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome, which include being overweight, having diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and also what we commonly refer to as the non-alcoholic fatty liver.

journals.plos.org/plosone/a... ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

One way to address this is by cutting all sugars and fast carbohydrates, and to consume fresh vegetables, grass-fed animals for proteins, and good quality fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, oily fish, and to avoid all refined and processed foods and oils.

Furthermore, thyroid hormones have a central role in differentiation, development, and maintenance of body homeostasis.

It has been suggested in various studies that thyroid hormones regulate ferritin expression. As both iron excess and deficiency are deleterious, cells have developed mechanisms to ensure that iron levels are sufficient for cellular need but at the same time limit iron toxicity.

Although the cause of the T3 induced increase in the serum ferritin level in humans is unknown, increased synthesis of ferritin in the liver may well be an important contributor.

These links between T3 and the regulation of ferritin expression suggest that a positive correlation exists between the levels of T3 /T4 and ferritin in the serum.

mcb.asm.org/content/29/8/22...

However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the hepatic regulation of ferritin expression by T3 remain to be determined.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

In 1985, Hashimoto wrote about the same observation and stated: “On the other hand, serum ferritin was low in the hypothyroid patients and significantly increased with the normalization of thyroid function.”

A full blood profile will give you the fuller picture and might confirm the reason for your unexplained high ferritin.

Finally, it is important to add that reference ranges for blood ferritin vary across laboratories, but generally, levels of 30 to 300 ng/ml are considered normal for men, and 10–200 ng/ml for women.

I hope this helps!

Boohbette17 profile image
Boohbette17 in reply to researcherUK

Thank you for this info researcherUK !! Fascinating 👌

Boohbette17 profile image
Boohbette17 in reply to Boohbette17

😁

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Boohbette17

Thank you very much, Boohbette17 :-)

Boohbette17 profile image
Boohbette17 in reply to researcherUK

You’re welcome!🌸

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to researcherUK

Thank you researcheruk, that is really interesting and so much of what you have written fits, thank you :)

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Fruitandnutcase

You are very welcome, Fruitandnutcase, anytime!

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee in reply to researcherUK

Thank you so much for that info researcherUK, really helpful

researcherUK profile image
researcherUK in reply to Jillycee

You are most welcome, Jillycee! Anytime, just let me know!

Boohbette17 profile image
Boohbette17

Hi there Jillycee , I have high ferritin as well & my doctor blamed my rice consumption .

Curious of your thoughts - do you consume a fair amount of rice ??

Jillycee profile image
Jillycee in reply to Boohbette17

Oh my word! I probably eat rice once a week but maybe twice a week on occasions

Boohbette17 profile image
Boohbette17 in reply to Jillycee

Hmm, I do twice a week sometimes 3x but I’m hoping that isn’t enough to cause that ferritin, yet my brain chirps how I’ve proven that MY body with even a little gluten does show reactions/effect. SIGH☹️

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