How to increase Ferritin ?

[Ari3]

I wanted to ask you all if you could help me how to increase ferritin levels in any kind-food supplements or anything ! Can I take iron supplements together with any other vitamins and minerals?

[Marz]

Eating Liver once or twice a week should sort it ! If you don't like liver then cook it with all your favourite spices and then pop it in the food processor - you can then add it to your favourite meat sauces

[Ari3 in reply to Marz]

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

What is your Ferritin level?

Iron is more complicated than just Ferritin. If Ferritin is very low in range, or below range, that can indicate iron deficiency anaemia so a full blood count and iron panel should be done. Iron deficiency anaemia is treated with ferrous fumarate and if you are prescribed iron tablets then you should take each one with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Iron should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds and 2 hours away from any other medication or supplements as it will affect their absorption.

If ferritin is a little low (it needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, and for females I've seen it said 100-130 is best), and doesn't suggest anaemia then eating liver regularly will help raise it, maximum 200g per week.

[Ari3 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you .My levels of ferritin is 40 last week and dr prescribed me ferrous furmarate.But she said that I have to take them capsules only when I have my periods as we lose the blood but not on every day basis is this true? Should I eat liver and drink for example orange juice with ir for max absorption? The strengths of ferrous furmarate is 10mg.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ari3]

Are you sure the ferrous fumarate isn't 210mg? That is the normal dose, and each one contains 65mg elemental iron.

I haven't heard before about only taking them during your period. I doubt very much that your Ferritin isn't only low on those days and miraculously is normal the rest of the time!

It takes some time (months) for Ferritin level to rise. I raised mine from about 35 to 109 purely by eating liver every week. I didn't bother taking Vit C or drinking orange juice with the liver, it's important when taking the tablets though.

[Gambit62]

Ari3 - speak to a pharmacist about the ferrous fumerate. There are two ways of becoming iron deficient - one is losing blood, the other is not being able to absorb the iron from your diet.

As you have thyroid problem it is likely that absorption is more of an underlying issue than loss of blood during your period though there may be an element of both going on. Ironically one of the signs of iron anaemia is heavy periods so there is a danger in assuming that it is the bleeding that is causing the problem ... and if your periods aren't heavy then ...

If you have hashis then you may also have thyorigstric syndrome

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Ideally your GP should be monitoring for other vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as iron tends to be the first deficiency to manifest in thyrogastric syndrome - with folate, B12 and vitamin D being the most likely ones to follow.

as thyroid problems can also lead to slow gut transfer which can lead to other absorption problems (via conditions like SIBO) would be a good idea to monitor vitamins and minerals even if your thyroid issues aren't cause by hashi's