Please help interpret iron lab results

[Cora-la]

Please help interpret iron lab results

Ferritin - 38.55 (13 - 150)

Iron - 91 (33- 193)

TIBC - 420 (250- 450)

Transferin Saturation - 21.7 (14 - 50)

Could lovely people here interpret my iron lab results?

Health history:

I am suffering from chronic pain and chronic fatigue for many years. I have been diagnosed with Fibromalgia.

I am also hypothyroid taking levothyrox 50mcg and 75mcg on the weekends ( I had half of my thyroid completely removed in 2016)

I am not supplementing iron.

Should I start supplementing?

Thank you very much

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cora-la

IRON PANEL OPTIMAL LEVELS

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 91 (33- 193) = 36.25% through range so is low.

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 21.7 (14 - 50) so it's low.

TIBC: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is 420 (250- 450) so it's high in range.

Ferritin: Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation; High level with low serum iron/low saturation indicates inflammation or infection; High level with high serum iron and low TIBC indicates excess iron; Over range with saturation above 45% suggests hemochromatosis - yours is 18.65% through range so it's low

I cannot advise whether you should supplement, you may wish to discuss that with your GP. If you do supplement then you or your GP should regularly check your levels, every 2-3 months.

I am also hypothyroid taking levothyrox 50mcg and 75mcg on the weekends

What are your current results for TSH, FT4 and FT3, including reference ranges?

Also results/ranges for Vit D, B12, Folate?

[Cora-la in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hello,

Thanks so much for all these great Informations.

My last blood test from January shows:

B12 - 242 (187-883)

Vit D - 49,9

TSH 1,98 (0,45- 4,5)

I did not get results for FT4 and FT3 as they got confused and they did T4 total and T3 total instead

Concerning B12 I have started since then a serie of some injections.

I am not supplementing in Vit D.

This Monday I will go to get tested for TSH, FT4 and FT3

If you could interpret these lab results...it will be well appreciated.

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Cora-la]

Is the unit of measurement for Vit D nmol/L or ng/ml?

Was Folate tested? B12 and Folate work together. Folate should be at least half way through range.

When taking B12 by supplements or injection then a good B Complex should also be taken to balance all the B vitamins.

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally, when on Levo only, is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.

[Cora-la in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi,

That is strange but on the blood test I don t have any unit of measurement written for the Vit D.

I cam only read about Vit D the following:

Deficiency < 10

Insufficiency: 10 - 30

Sufficiency: 30-100

Hypervitaminosis > 100

I have not been tested for Folate.

Thanks a lot

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Cora-la]

OK, so that is ng/ml and the Vit D Council recommends a level of 50 and the Vit D Society recommends 40-60. So your Vit D level is good. Do you supplement?

Folate should be tested because it works so closely with B12.

Are your B12 injections prescribed?

Were you tested for B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia?

NHS article about B12/Folate deficiency :

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b...