Results of iron deficiency test. All ok?

[Mickeydooley]

I’ve just received the results of an iron deficiency test which I completed following advice regarding my high levels of ferritin in a previous ultravit test. Although my ferritin levels are still high it would appear that the other markers are all within range. I have now been advised by a medichecks doctor to complete a liver function test. Is this really necessary? TIA.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mickeydooley

Optimal levels for an iron panel, according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 50.7%

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 35.42%

TIBC: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is 46.11% through range

UIBC: Low in range indicates that you may have too much iron in your blood which may be due to iron overload syndrome (hereditary haemochromatosis). High in range signifies iron deficiency - yours is 28.1% through 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

So all in all your iron panel is good except for raised ferritin.

Ferritin can be raised due to infection or inflammation. If you have Hashi's this can cause inflammation which would possibly be the cause of the raised ferritin.

I'm not sure why they've suggested a liver test though.

[Mickeydooley in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your reply. They said that my raised ferritin levels could be due to alcohol intake as I admitted in my supporting info that I drank more than 14 units a week. 😱. (I’m also post menopausal and 60 years old and a member on this forum explained recently that ferritin ranges have changed recently in acknowledgement that levels rise in this group). Do you think my levels are worrying?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mickeydooley]

Mickeydooley

(I’m also post menopausal and 60 years old and a member on this forum explained recently that ferritin ranges have changed recently in acknowledgement that levels rise in this group)

I have been doing Medichecks tests since 2015 and done quite a few ferritin tests with them since then, their range has always been 13-150. My GP range has always been 15-300. No changes in either of them recently so I don't know where that information has come from.

I am 72, so obviously post-menopausal, and I certainly have never had

raised ferritin, I struggle to get mine to the recommended level, my

iron panel is good but ferritin usually only around 50 if I'm lucky.

Do you think my levels are worrying?

Sorry, but I really have no idea how high ferritin would need to be for someone to be concerned.

So the suggestion of the liver test could be due to your alcohol intake.

[Mickeydooley in reply to SeasideSusie]

I can’t seem to find the comments about higher ferritin range. Perhaps not on this forum. I don’t drink a lot of alcohol but do have a couple of small glasses of wine most evenings. Will have to stop that now if I need to reduce my ferritin levels. 😩. Have to say I hate this disease. I’ve cut out so many things in an effort to help myself and each month the list of things I can’t have grows longer. My family and friends (who are generally very supportive) get so fed up with me and my ‘diet’. Sorry for the whine but I’m going through a tough patch at the moment.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mickeydooley]

I too have high ferritin and iron levels are “normal “

High ferritin can be due to inflammation of Hashimoto’s

Can be linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Testing and improving NAFLD

healthline.com/nutrition/fa...

Impaired gut health: Recent research suggests that having an imbalance in gut bacteria, problems with gut barrier function (“leaky gut”) or other gut health issues may contribute to NAFLD development

Obviously a lot of Hashimoto’s patients have leaky gut/gluten intolerance

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

I did a whole 6 weeks with restricted alcohol ...(In particular no beer as that’s supposed to have more effect on ferritin than wine) .....it didn’t make any difference to high ferritin levels

[Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your reply. My TGAb levels are above range (high 300s- low 400s mostly when I test). I’m struggling with gluten free diet just now but will attempt to get back on it. X

[humanbean in reply to Mickeydooley]

I think the most common problem with liver health is fatty liver. Alcohol can obviously damage the liver and cause the liver to become fatty but it isn't the only cause. A high carbohydrate diet will cause fatty liver too. That can cause NAFLD - Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

If you are interested in reading some articles on the subject :

dietdoctor.com/?s=liver

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-a...

newhealthadvisor.org/Causes...

Another possibility for the cause of high ferritin could be a diet that is very high in vitamin C. This vitamin increases absorption of iron from the diet, and iron in the body in greater amounts than is normally required is stored in ferritin.

The body has no mechanism for getting rid of excess iron and storing it in ferritin keeps it away from any pathogens you might have or acquire that need iron to reproduce.

In people with haemochromatosis ferritin levels are usually first investigated when they reach over 800 or over 1000. So at the moment, your ferritin level wouldn't ring alarm bells in a doctor seeing your results. If you want to reduce your ferritin level to being in range I suspect it will have to be something you do for yourself.

[Mickeydooley in reply to humanbean]

I’m not overweight and eat a low carb/Keto diet. I’ll look into the vit c but not sure it could be that either. Possibly inflammation as I have high(ish) TGAb? Interesting to see the ferritin levels for haemochromatosis. Thanks very much for the reply. Feel a bit better now. X