Help with interpreting Iron Panel results please

[Rachel357]

I have just got my results back from Medichecks and I'm a bit confused about what it all means, especially with the first result. Is it still okay for me to supplement with iron? Thank you.

Iron 27.6 umol/L (6.60-26.00)

T.I.B.C 53.6 umol/L (41.00-77.00)

Transferrin Saturation 51.49 (20.00-55.00)

Ferritin 76.5 ug/L (13.00-150.00)

CRP - High Sensitivity 1.61 mg/1 (0.00-5.00)

[Angel_of_the_North]

I wouldn't supplement iron with those results, but I'm no expert. I think Lyme disease can cause low ferritin and high iron, but your ferritin is fine.

[Rachel357 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you. I was surprised at my ferritin result as it was 23 (13-150) last January and 43 in May and I was only taking 25mcg iron a day.

[humanbean]

I would suggest stopping your supplements for now. Your ferritin is fine but your serum iron is a bit too high for comfort. It isn't healthy to have high levels of iron swishing around in your bloodstream.

You might want to read this :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

and read some of the links on the page too.

Some people develop high levels of iron in the bloodstream because they have a MTHFR gene problem. There is a possibility that if you continued to supplement iron that your serum iron would just get higher and higher, and your ferritin would stay the same.

Your problem is very minor at the moment, but you might want to take 400mcg methylfolate (NOT folic acid) per day and see if it helps. It should help your body to move iron from serum iron into ferritin (and back again when necessary).

If you can afford to I would suggest getting tested again in 2 or 3 months.

One thing has just occurred to me. How long did you leave between your last dose of iron and the blood draw for the test?

[Rachel357 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for your advice. I stopped taking my iron supplement a week before I did the test.

I currently take 200mcg of methylfolate which is in the Stress-B complex (Thorne) which I take. Do you think that will be enough?

Also, do you think it will be okay for me to take Lactoferrin? I have ordered some to help with digestive issues but I think it also helps you absorb iron better from food?

[humanbean in reply to Rachel357]

Stopping a week before was ideal.

You could take more methylfolate. Taking an additional 200mcg or 400mcg per day is unlikely to do any harm, but read this link first :

mthfr.net/methylfolate-side...

I don't know anything about lactoferrin, so can't comment, sorry.

[Rachel357 in reply to humanbean]

My folate and B12 levels have always been high up the range, so is it still likely that I might have the MTHFR gene? Also, where can you get this tested? Thank you.

[humanbean in reply to Rachel357]

I'm out of my depth on the subject of MTHFR beyond the absolute basics. There are other protocols for reducing the problems the MTHFR gene causes. See this page from Dr Myhill. Her protocol - much more complicated than just taking methylfolate and/or methylcobalamin - is part way down the page :

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/CFS_-_T...

And going back to STTM :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

It might be useful.

[Rachel357 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for all your help.