I am new here and recently I am looking for information and possible ways to increase my ferritin levels, wether naturally or by supplementation (but what?).
I spent last couple of days browsing I am so confused that I do not know where to start.
First of all my recent blood results are worrying with serum iron 28 (norm 11-27) and ferritin 12 (norm 30-200) and TFR saturation 34% (norm 15-55%).
My GP prescribed me Ferro-Grad C, but I am reluctant to use it, because... well... I have enough iron running around my veins. I also suffer from rather low energy and physical training does not bring any improvements.
Additionally I checked my homocysteine, which seems to be OK, 8.1 (norm 3.7-13.9) and I am waiting for results from MTHFR.
Here I found some information and people facing similar problem (low ferritin and high iron), but after digging further:
- one of possible reasons may be the MTHFR mutation (which I expect to be, as my brother has it and I always had autoimmune issues like egzema and possible Hashi, but this somehow regulated after changing the nutrition and I do not need any medication)
- then some search led me to MTHFR related issues of overmethylation or undermethylation, but according to symptoms I should have both
- inbetween that there is Pernicious anaemia or copper overload and zinc defficiency or pylouria and many others that are in one way or other connected.
To be honest I don't feel like and don't have money at the moment to do all possible tests and again start wondering what disease I might be suffering from.
I just would like to get my energy (and libido) back, see improvement in physical training, improve ferritin levels.
Do you have any ideas, similar experiences, advice, I will be happy to hear them.
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gucia6
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I’ve suffered with low ferritin for many years and have tried all sorts of supplements with varying success. I had to resort to iron infusions. This was very recent. My ferritin result went from 23 (before infusions) to 329 (after last infusion). Serum iron, transferrin etc., all remained consistent before and after (meaning, the iron from the infusion seemed to go directly into my iron stores which, according to my GP, is what is supposed to happen). I will get tested in 8 weeks to see if the ferritin levels last or fade quickly.
I do have a slight MHTFR mutation which could be the culprit. If that’s the case then I’m not sure if there is a treatment to assist or if I will have to have infusions on a regular basis.
I’m also in the process of healing my gut since years of antibiotics seems to have put it out of whack. I have two autoimmune conditions (lupus and Sjogrens) in addition to being hypo so it’s never easy determining what is causing what. I had tried several probiotics and supplements and nothing seemed to do anything until I found Amy Myers. Her Primal Earth probiotic is amazing. I’m also using her Candifense, Capryllic Acid, Leaky Gut Revive, multivitamin and Coconut Charcoal along with her Paleo Protein and Collagen protein powders. So far things seem to be improving for me.
Sorry - I don’t think I’ve been much help. Others here might have more advice. I know several folks swear by liquid iron. I have not tried that.
Thank you. Your inpot is actually great support to understand my own condition.
Currently I am supplementing with high dose of hydroxocobalamin with a bit of methyl folate in coenzymated B-complex. This seems to he helping a bit more than taking methylcobalamin.
I also was also thinking, that maybe I have some inflammation and my body needs iton, so ferritin releases it causing higher serum iron and at the same time lowering ferritin levels. But this is just my pondering and I have no idea if this is anything close to the real mechanism.
So in a week or so I will start supplementing iron, but first with lower doses and slowly build it up.
Your doctor has prescribed you iron based on your ferritin levels but you should not supplement iron if you have enough circulating in your blood stream as too much can be toxic. Your serum iron level is already over-range.
When ferritin levels are low and serum iron is within range (or high), fewer and smaller red blood cells are produced, eventually resulting in iron deficiency anaemia. So low ferritin levels will put you at risk of anaemia but doesn’t mean you have it, unless your haemoglobin level is low as well.
Discuss this further with your doctor and ask to have haemoglobin and hematocrit tested.
You will most likely need monitoring and eventually to supplement when your serum iron levels reduce.
At the moment I decided to start taking chelated iron because of a 'gut feeling' that I might need it due to intensive training. My GP prescribed me ferrous sulfate with eqvl. iron 100mg, but I decided to get the chelated version and start with 40mg iron, 60mg on my training days, and observe how my body behaves.
I have follow up check in 3 months, so I will be able to see if there are any changes.
I believe I discovered the reason of my drastic ferritin levels drop (last year was 28ug/L and this year 12ug/L). One thing that has changed from before is physical activity. I started pretty intensive training, often being very sore, sometimes ending up with minor injuries. Also at the time of last testing I was still recovering from one.
Anyway, at this point I am changing my eating habits, include beef broth and gelatin in menu, eliminate coffee for a while (what a pain... wuuu ;( ), eat more meats and veggies and supplement chelated iron to balance at least the loses/needs due to training.
Transferrin receptors are the blood proteins and the soluble transferrin receptor is the cleaved portion used to get iron into cells.
It floats about in the blood stream and should be elevated in iron deficiency so can be measured with a blood serum test to see what iron is actually being used on an intracellular level.
Are you a runner ? I have read before that runners can have significantly lower ferritin levels than other sports such as the cycling that I do.
I have iron overload but that brings its own issues too. 🙂
My transferrin is in range but high end 42(range 20-43), so basically that would make sense that I need iron.
I train martial arts, 3-4 times weekly, avg 1.5hrs per session with lots of endurance and resistance exercises. Sweat flows like rivers. Sometimes happen minor bruises
I approached my problem in very complicated way, but it seems to be working wonders on me.
As iron is one of the very important elements impacting my health it is not the only one. But there is the vitamin B issue due to the MTHFR mutation. Then I suspect magnesium deficiency / imbalance due to very intensive training sessions and eating fair bit of yogurt/kefir every day, which I did for last year without supplementing magnesium.
And then the parasites. Well, I did not do any tests, but it is highly probable as I work often with earth, eat raw fish (sushi) and meat (tartar, rare steak).
So starting with parasites - on empty stomach I take 1 spoon cloves olive oil and during the day I drink wormwood tea (two weeks drinking, one week off) and walnut tea. Whether I have any or if it kills the bugs off or not the teas have also other nice health benefits, fighting anaemia included.
I drink 2 cups of bone broth (luckily enough the butcher around the corner sells certified organic beef bones) with carrot from that said broth. The broth usually I cook over night and it lasts me for couple of days.
When eating yogurt I add 1/4 tsp of pure magnesium chloride (pharmaceutical grade), honey and one caps of my co-enzymated vit B complex.
Another concoction is dissolved 1 tbsp unflavored beef gelatin with honey, magnesium, B complex and 1tbsp of apple cider vinegar.
Whenever I feel like or remember I drink some water kefir or beetroot kvass, and snack on the fermented beetroot slices from kvass.
As for iron, I crush it in mortar and dissolve it in 1L bottle of water with a bit of apple cider vinegar and seep it through the day.
My usual daily feeding routine is as follows:
- After waking up - cloves olive oil
- Approx 30min later I have my yogurt.
- 1-1.5 hrs after yogurt I have my coffee (just something I cannot/don't want to let go)
- Around 2 hrs after coffee I have my 2nd breakfast which consist of broth with load of veggies or some sort of salad. From this point I also start drinking my 'ironic' water.
Then lunch I have usually pretty loaded and big, piece of meat with veggies or fair plate of sushi, or whatever nice healthy and nutritious I have prepared. After this big meal I usually don't eat until after training, eventually I snack on some sort of veggies or nuts.
- One hour before training I drink my gelatin concoction.
- During training I change between water and the rest of 'ironic' water.
- After training I eat whatever there is for dinner.
This all seems to work amazing for me. I do not feel fatigued and sleepy during the day, I am able to perform much better during training, the recovery afterwards is also quicker.
Maybe this all is only in my head, but still I wanted to share my experience.
And if anyone wanted to start supplementing magnesium after reading this post, please, please, please, adjust it for your needs and/or consult with your gp. I could say that I take double/triple dose of both magnesium and b-complex, but firstly I eat really lots of diary (=lots of calcium) and I train 4-6 times a week average 1.5hrs per session.
ufff... I congratulate all of you who managed to the end
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