Hi, can anyone explain what ferritin is and what part it plays with the Thyroid my blood test has come back very low.
Thank you.
Ferritin..what is it?: Hi, can anyone explain... - Thyroid UK
Ferritin..what is it?
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Benadrove5
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SeasideSusieRemembering
Benadrove5
My very simple explanation, I'm sure someone else will explain it better.
Ferritin is your iron store - think of it as a pantry. The different organs of the body require iron to work properly, so they go to the pantry to get some iron. When the pantry is getting low, it needs to stock up on iron again and we get it from food - animal and plant sources.
If your ferritin level is low, your thyroid can't work properly. Low ferritin can cause lots of symptoms
How low is your ferritin level? If it's very low in range or below range, you will need an iron panel and full blood count to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia.
Hi Susie, the website you gave is interesting but when I try to print it some parts of it can't be printed, so is there another form or a way I can obtain a pdf for it so that I can print it in its integrity? Thanks if you can help.
Apologies to Benadrove5 for hijacking the post....
Sorry JGBH I have no idea, I've never tried to print it.
Ok, thanks. It really is a good website and I find it helpful in still trying to resolve my many problems...
Very best wishes to you for 2019, improved health tops the bill! x
I use Firefox as my browser. It has a Reader View option which gets rid of adverts and fancy graphics and makes it easier to read and print. But I should point out that Reader View shows the print to be 21 pages long!
Happy New Year to you too.
Hi. Can you use the ‘snipping tool’ ? You can use this to select parts of text and drop them into a word document . Word has a mind of its own so not always easy. Good Luck x
I just copy and paste (and reformat). You *can* print that page. Did you try File, Print rather than right click?
Thanks.
in reply to JGBH
I copy and paste text onto a Word document. You can then delete any unwanted pictures and ads that may have come in by mistake and adjust the margins etc to go on fewer pages. Fiddly but works.
AnneEvo in reply to
Didn't notice you'd already suggested same Jnetti 😉
in reply to AnneEvo
SNAP!!! Though I think you may have said it first!
JGBH in reply to
Thank you.
I think the easiest way to print it is to copy and paste what you want into a Word, or similar, document.
It looks like there are many different boxes o. That website that probably haven't been set up to print well. One thing you can try if when you print it gives you the option to 'print selection', select with your mouse all the text you want to print, by clicking an dragging, so it gets highlighted. Then with it still highlighted choose 'print selection', and it should print just what you've selected and ignore the extra boxes (you may have to try a few times to highlight just the main text, as sometimes it jumps about and selects things you haven't clicked on).
Another thing you can try is to cut and paste it into a new document, a Word document or whatever you use to write with on your computer. Then print the new document you've made.
Unfortunately some web pages that have made it hard to print can also be hard to select and cut just what you want, too.
The final thing to try is to take a screenshot of the page and to print that. It will be a picture of whatever you see on the screen when you do it. If you don't know how you'll have to search online for how to screenshot on the computer and operating system you're using.
Other people may know a few more tricks, but those are the ones I use.
Oops, didn't notice loads of people had already answered this question!!
Many thanks indeed!
Hi, my ferritin level is 13
Without the reference range, I don't know if it's in range, bottom of range or below range. However, from the ranges we frequently see on here - often 13-150 - then your level is low or below range and you need to ask your GP for a full blood count (and iron panel) to see if there is any anaemia. If this test has been done by your GP and he is happy to see your level that low, then he is rather negligent and you'd be better off seeing someone else.
Hi Seaside Susie this is my ferritin blood result.
Serum ferritin. Level 13. (15.0–300.0)
My GP says all my bloods are satisfactory.
Full Blood count (424)
Magnesium 0.87 (0.7–1.0)
Thank you.
Benadrove5
You should make an urgent appointment with your GP. Point out that your Ferritin is below range and ask how that can possibly be satisfactory.
Low Ferritin is suggestive of iron deficiency anaemia.
"Full Blood count (424)"
A full blood count is not a single test, it comprises many different tests, and I have no idea what (424) relates to. The following components of a full blood count are the ones that can indicate iron deficiency anaemia :
Haemoglobin
MCV
MCH
MCHC
If you have iron deficiency anaemia then it needs treatment.
A below range Ferritin should really be treated with an iron infusion to raise the level within 24-48 hours, tablets can take many months to raise the level.
If your GP still says your Ferritin is satisfactory and is not prepared to do anything, make an appointment with a different doctor then consider making an official complaint about this one.
Article about why low Ferritin needs to be treated :
Hi SeasideSusie,
Haemoglobin concentration 123 (115.0–165)
MCV 92.8 (80–100)
MCH 29.7 (27.0–32.0)
Mean platelet volume 10.6
RDW 13.6% (11.0–14.8)
Mean cell Haemoglobin level 29.7 (27.0–32.0)
Hope these will be helpful.
Thank you.
There is no suggestion of iron deficiency anaemia there.
Now you need an iron panel, have these already been done as they need to be considered along with your ferritin result:
Serum iron
TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
Transferrin Saturation
Hi, the link you sent to me made very good reading I will definitely ask my GP if I can have an iron panel done, the other thing that struck me in that like was metal toxicity I have metal in both femurs from a RTA many years ago and the consultant told me then that I had to keep a check on my iron levels for the rest of my life, it says this in the link you sent so now have to check for metal toxicity as that can effect iron levels and also nutrition which in turn can effect the way the Thyroid works all very interesting but mind boggling.
What are your thoughts on this please.
I'm afraid I can't comment on metal toxicity, it's not something I've needed to look into.
As for the iron panel, if your GP agrees to this then fast for 8 hours before the test. He should agree if your consultant recommended checking your iron levels for the rest of your life. Ferritin doesn't need a fasting test but the rest of the iron panel does. I always find it easier to book the earliest possible appointment of the day and delay breakfast for any test I have done, easiest way to fast as far as I'm concerned. I can't imagine having breakfast then having to fast for 8 hours for an afternoon iron panel test.
If for any reason your GP wont do the iron panel, then Medichecks do one as a fingerprick test, I think it's £39 and of course THYROIDUK gives 10% discount when it's not on offer (I've managed to get one for £29 on a Thyroid Thursday once). Medichecks call it the Iron Deficiency Check.
Ferritin is a protein that contains/stores iron, and so if it is lower than normal, it indicates your body's iron stores are low. Inadequate iron means inadequate hemoglobin, means low TPO bonding, means low thyroid hormone synthesis; and not only is iron required for the creation of thyroid hormone, low iron levels are also associated with low levels of free T3, the active form of thyroid hormone.
SlowDragonAdministrator
GP should run a full iron panel to check iron levels and presumably you are prescribed ferrous fumerate and/or iron infusion
If your ferritin is low, you also need to test vitamin D, folate and B12
These are often too low as well when hypothyroid
Especially if you have Hashimoto's, also called autoimmune thyroid disease, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Just read your previous posts and see you have Hashimoto's
Ask for coeliac blood test too
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
Benadroves5,
Ferritin isn’t the same thing as iron in your body.
It is the protein that stores iron, releasing it when your body needs it. It usually lives in your body’s cells (liver known as hepatocytes & immune system known as reticuloendothelial cells) with only about 20% of total in a healthy person.
When we need to make more red blood cells the body signals the cells to release ferritin which then binds to a carrier called transferrin. Iron is also key for conversion of T4-T3 and low levels may decrease deiodinase activity resulting in conversion to reverse T3 rather than the active hormone. It is important to have enough stored iron (ferritin) or iron stores can quickly deplete.
A complete iron panel (which measures ferritin, transferrin, serum iron and transferrin saturation level) gives a clearer picture of iron levels as elevated ferritin can be due to inflammation (common in Hashi). Low ferritin can be raised by taking iron and better absorbed with Vitamin C.
If you are deficient in iron, ask your GP to test Vit B12, folate and Vit D also, and post results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.
Hi Radd,
Sorry to jump on and ask you a question here but you just seem so knowledgeable on the subject of ferritin.
I had an iron infusion in October and my ferritin was low (I wasn’t anaemic yet). My thyroid t3 was low also (3.4)and my vitamin D for which I had an injection and am now on tablets as it’s still quite low within normal range. I am now on armour thyroid and my t3 has gone up a tiny bit (3.9)
Shortly after the infusion my ferritin was tested and was up at 184.
Two months later it was down to 85.
I was told the infusion would probably last a lifetime or at least deplete very slowly.
I don’t have Hashimotos.
All my symptoms remain, complete exhaustion, freezing hands and feet, muscle and joint pain.
Do some people not store ferritin? Any other thoughts on the sudden drop?
Again sorry to hijack this conversation!
Hi aimeegolightly
HOw do you know you dont have Hashimotos? You need TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and preferably Tgab ( thyroglobulin antibodies) to confirm Hashimotos. Docs wont always test for Tgab and some wont even test for TPO, just TSH. All down to cost unfortunately. They are all getting very mean with what blood testing they wont do and wont test vitamins or minerals either which need to be optimal, not just normal range as docs will often quote. Have you a printout of recent bloods so others more knowledgeable than me can advise? You need to quote ranges. Also look up symptoms of hypothyroidism, the ones you mention sound hypo to me, but there could be other things going on of course. Im no medic but just learned alot over the years as both my son and me have Hashimotos. By the way TPO might show on one blood test and not another because Hashi symptoms are like that and results will vary from month to month. Docs dont seem to get this or even know about it in many cases unfortunately.
Regards
JaneCx
aimeegolightly thyr01d
You might like this article on ferritin :
irondisorders.org/Websites/...
and for info on the Iron Withholding Defence System mentioned in the above link see page 8 of the following link :
irondisorders.org/Websites/...
Hmm. Very interesting. The Iron Withholding Defense System would be a logical explanation for why my ferritin level was sky high, while all other measurements of iron were normal. I recently discovered I have a sinus infection, which is now being treated with antibiotics. I will ask my doctor to retest ferritin once I am well. Thanks humanbean.
Wow. Just noticed this in the article about the Iron Withholding Defense System.
This temporary “anemia” is relieved when
the underlying cause is identified and cured.
Iron pills should never be taken by a patient
with this type of anemia. Doing so could be
fatal.
The Iron Withholding System is used by the body to keep iron away from bacteria, viruses and any other possible kind of infection. It also keeps iron away from cancers. If these infections/cancers got hold of iron it gives them one of the vital substances they need to grow and replicate.
If you have a life-threatening infection which is being kept under control by the immune system (for example) then giving it iron via supplementation might make the difference that allows it to grow out of control and kill you.
This is why I hate it when I see people choosing to supplement iron when all they know is either a serum iron level or a ferritin level but not both. People really need to know both, and the transferrin saturation, to know if iron supplementation is a good - and safe - idea.
aimeegolightly,
Low ferritin is common in people with low thyroid hormone which can result in low stomach acid which is required for iron absorption and low intrinsic factor which is required for Vit B12 absorption.
Vit B12 is needed for normal red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body using haemoglobin. Also, as Dr Barnes’ quoted "‘The lower one’s temperature is, the fewer blood cells are produced within the bone marrow” and if you don’t have enough red blood cells for iron to attach to, iron levels are effected. Have you had Vit B12 and folate tested ? ..
Low ferritin levels do not always automatically point to low iron without a full iron panel as it is possible to have low ferritin with adequate or even elevated serum iron levels. As you have received iron transfusions, I assume you have had full iron panels ? ? ...
Other iron absorption inhibitors are the tannins in coffee & tea, dairy products & chocolate, eggs, calcium.
Many symptoms of iron deficiency are the same as those seen in people with low thyroid hormone. Your other post shows you appear to be quite under medicated, so hopefully optimising thyroid hormones may help.
If you post any results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets), members will comment.
Hi Radd, and I too am sorry for coming in to someone else's post, but please could you tell us more about ferritin.
Mine scrapes along bottom of the range and barely increases on prescribed ferrous fumarate (after well over 2 years it had only risen to 30).
My consultant thought the ferritin would rise on T3 as absorption was expected to improve but no such luck.
Should mention I'm vegan so eating liver etc is not an option.
I'd be grateful for advice, perhaps via pm if others aren't interested?
Many thanks
Two years on supplements without much improvement sounds like a bad situation that requires action.
I am not very knowledgeable about vitamins, unlike some excellent posters here, but I know the basics. It's important that if your first stab at supplementation doesn't show benefits the next thing to do is to move onto the next level. This is taking more bioavailable supplements, maybe at increased doses, and if appropriate more investigation into why the body is struggling.
With iron issues you need to look at the full iron panel as posters have mentioned. It's also possible to have an injection (infusion), and probably other things I don't know about. If I were you I'd create a brand new post asking about this, because then more people will see it, rather than buried in someone else's post.
Doctors are often useless with this, and will leave you to bang your head against the wall for years, getting more and more sick.
You may be put into a position where it's a choice between staying 100% vegan, or doing the best to treat your illness. It's worth giving a lot of thought and deciding where you'd rather be and what your boundaries are. You may be able to source very high welfare liver or black pudding, for example. This will depend on your own personal reasons for being vegan, but also how bad your symptoms are and how able you are to put up with them long term.
Do you like red lentils? Home made lentil soup is quick, easy and a good source or iron. But - being Vegan - you probably know this !
Hi Mary-intusss....
Thanks and yes we like red lentil soup and I try to eat a lot of leafy greens as well but I suppose like many things it's harder to increase when starting from low than it would have been if I'd known the ferritin level was beginning to drop and paid attention to it then.
Yes, some people are genetically weak at storing iron. I supplement but not a lot due to limited tolerance.
I had iron infusions and they did not last.
I have hashimotos disease and over Summer my pins and needles which was occasionally appearing in my fingers got much worse in my hands. I gor a blood test from the go and ferratin was low at ‘12’ I think they said but I wasnt anaemic. I had ferrous fumerate tablets 210 mg x3 a day..made me feel ill so I cou,d onlt take 2 at the most a day for two months! Then my levels were at ‘30’ which was deemed ok but to carry on taling one tablet a day.. My pins and nneedles went away but since returned and are tingling away as I type.
Peripheral neuropathy.. but why? I am 57 yrs. Hope it isnt a sign of autoimmune of the liver , that is what my mother has as well as having hashis...
I since discovered Gentle Iron, its much nicer to take even if there is less iron than the tablets.
I have Hashimoto’s also, and in fact only got diagnosed hypothyroid when I got blood tests due to pins and needles and pain in my fingers/hands. I’m putting it down to carpal tunnel which is common in hypothyroidism. I think it’s something to do with swelling and pressure on a nerve. I hope it’s not peripheral neuropathy. 😱
Anyone know if you can get anemia even if you are menopausal and if you can what could be some reasons for it ? Sorry...don't mean to jump the post I'm curious too.
humanbean in reply to
If you are losing blood from somewhere then you can become iron deficient and/or anaemic very easily, whether you are pre-menopausal or menopausal.
The sort of things that might cause this would be, say, piles (although the amount of blood lost is not usually very significant with piles and if it was significant you'd know about it), bleeding polyps anywhere in the gut, bleeding in the stomach or upper gut from ulcers.
There are other causes of anaemia. See the chart at the bottom of this page :
irondisorders.org/Websites/...
in reply to humanbean
I knew I wasn't going nutz I asked for Ferritin test and my doctor said I didnt need it because im in menopause.
humanbean in reply to
You can do a finger-prick test for iron that is very helpful :
medichecks.com/iron-tests/i...
You can get 10% off the price :
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
If you do this, once you have the results post them in a new post and ask for feedback.
in reply to humanbean
I'm in the US they don't allow us to pay for our own lab test...so stupid.
humanbean in reply to
stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...
On the link above you'll find the names of five labs in the US that deal directly with the public, no doctors or insurance involved. There are a few states apparently that put up barriers to stop this, but not many.
I believe it's your stored up iron and if your Ferritin is too low it usually means your T4 isn't converting enough T3.
Ferritin is your Iron levels. If it's low you are not eating enough fresh green leafy vegatables.
Hi all,
I’ve just got my ferritin levels here we go..
13 (15.0–300)
Would really appreciate what to do next GP says NO FURTHER ACTION, due for Thyroid scan on 9th Jan.
Thanks..
I'd show your doctor this: "If left unchecked, low levels of iron can cause heart failure (when your heart doesn’t pump blood to your body as well as it should). It can also cause these symptoms:
Chest pain
Leg pain
Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus"
webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/fer...
and this: "Results
The normal range for blood ferritin is:
For men, 20 to 500 nanograms per milliliter
For women, 20 to 200 nanograms per milliliter
Lower than normal results
A lower than normal ferritin level indicates that you have iron deficiency. You may also be anemic. If your ferritin level is low, your doctor will work to determine the cause."
mayoclinic.org/tests-proced...
And ask why he feels that no further action should be taken.
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