Iron Supplement, Ferrous Fumarate - How Much?

[cherylwadey]

Hi All

I read on here that my ferritin level should be mid range i.e. 75 ug/L in order to help my hairloss problem. Mine is 47 therefore how many tablets should I take daily. The packet says 1 tablet 3 times a day however I may not need that much. They are 210mg. Please advise if I should have 1, 2 or 3 a day.

Many thanks.

[Clutter]

Cherylwadey,

I would take 1 x 210mg daily with 1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Take iron 4 hours away from Levothyroxine. Retest ferritin or iron in 4-6 months.

[cherylwadey in reply to Clutter]

Thank you very much for your help. Much appreciated. I am permanently constipated so that is my only concern with taking the iron. I will definitely get some Vit C.

Thanks again.

[Clutter in reply to cherylwadey]

Cherylwadey,

You can take more vitC, up to 3,000mg daily is okay. It has quite a loosening effect. Magnesium citrate does too. That can be taken to tolerance ie as much as it takes to cause loose bowels and then step back to the previous dose. Magnesium is usually taken at night as it is a relaxant and it must be taken 4-6 hours away from Levothyroxine.

[cherylwadey in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much. Constipation and hair loss have been the bane of my life for the last 20 odd years. I live on laxatives but I am trying desperately to get everything sorted. My weight gain and fatigue are ridiculous and I am a gym bod 4-5 times a week and I eat a really healthy balanced diet. I have gained 12 lb in the last 2 years. Your knowledge is invaluable and I am extremely grateful for your help. Hopefully I will get there in the end.

[Kitten44]

i take ff twice a day with vit c. It has raised my ferritin from 36 to about 70 in three months, though trichologist said it needs to be over 100 for normal hair growth, plus optimal vitamin, mineral and hormone levels.

[cherylwadey in reply to Kitten44]

Thank you Kitten. That is extremely helpful. It is a minefield and I really don't know where to start but my Ferritin level seems to be a good place to begin. As for the vitamins and minerals I don't have a clue. Do your recommend consulting a trichologist?

[Kitten44 in reply to cherylwadey]

To be honest, i'm not so sure, but I was desperate. Other than saying that the hair loss was due to nutrient deficiency and hormone imbalance, and thus, potentially reversible, didn't say anything new. The positive thing was he wrote to GP to recommend some tests and so for the first time ever the nhs tested my t4, t3, vit b12 and c, so that was positive.

[cherylwadey in reply to Kitten44]

Oh that sounds promising. Good Luck with it all and thanks again.