Iron status results help please: Can someone... - Thyroid UK

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Iron status results help please

Beata_s profile image
12 Replies

Can someone please help with interpretation ? Lab recommends no treatment unless signs of anemia are found in blood work ??? ( I seem to have a problem with this approach as it means basically to wait until anemia develops and then do something ; and ignore iron deficiency for now 😮)

Serum iron : 10.9 ( 20-37)

TIBC: 62% ( 30-75%)

Transferrin saturation : 17.6% ( more than 26%)

UIBC 51.5% ( no reference given )

Should supplementation begin with these levels ?

Thank you

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Beata_s
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Beata

According to this rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... you need iron supplementation.

Your serum iron is below range, TIBC high in range, saturation % a lot less than optimal.

Was this a GP test or private? I think you need to discuss with your GP.

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you your response - from what I learnt here guys ( and can’t thank you enough ) I also came to same conclusion

Could this low level iron status be responsible for lowered thyroid function ?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toBeata_s

Beata

Possibly. It's said that Ferritin needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work. Also, if anaemic that wouldn't be helping.

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply toSeasideSusie

That makes sense - and I suspected this to be the case - of treatment with iron increases the levels and thyroid function improves without meds - then it’s a done deal no doubt , right ?

Checking other important vitamins too

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toBeata_s

Beata

Interesting article about low Ferritin restartmed.com/low-ferritin/

Also, symptoms of some nutrient deficiencies can be similar to symptoms of hypothyroidism. So optimising nutrient levels can only be of benefit.

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply toSeasideSusie

I found out so !!! 😊 but good news his all can be corrected

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Do you have a ferritin result as well as those you've already given?

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply tohumanbean

No ferritin but I get it why it’s important and will get that sorted

Thank you so much 😊

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toBeata_s

If it turns out that your ferritin is quite high in range or over the range, then you shouldn't supplement iron to bring your serum iron up. This link explains why - see page 8 :

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply tohumanbean

Read the article - thank you - but ferritin cannot be high of iron and transferrin are low already ? Or could be ?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toBeata_s

Yes it could be, if the person has Anaemia of Chronic Disease (or Chronic Inflammation).

irondisorders.org/anemia-of...

Beata_s profile image
Beata_s in reply tohumanbean

Thank you for the article - makes total sense :

“The total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), an indirect measurement of transferrin, is low in anemia of chronic disease because there is ample iron, but it is not easily available. TIBC tends to be increased when iron stores are diminished and decreased when they are elevated. In iron-deficiency anemia, the TIBC is higher than 400–450 mcg/dL because stores are low. In anemia of chronic disease, the TIBC is usually below normal because the iron stores are elevated. ”

This dog results TIBC is high within the range - but I have another 2 tested ( as I suspected insufficient iron intake from diet - all showed same symptoms plus 3 more dogs pointing to iron statue rather then thyroid problems - 2 teste ddogs has lower TH circulating and no antibodies ) and these other 2 were high ; above the range for TIBC

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