I'm told that my iron is fine or that the ferritin should be closer to 50. Would supplementing iron be wise if the total iron is 133? I'm supplementing with methyl B12/folate and have brought those levels up to optimal ranges. They were low at the time of these iron results. Should I retest the iron since bringing up B12 and folate levels? Do you think low B12/folate would have affected my iron? Would trying to bring up ferritin with supplements just push my iron higher?
Iron, total 133 40-190 mcg/dl
Iron binding capacity 276 250-450 mcg/dl
% saturation 48 High 16-45%
Ferritin 47 16-154 ng/ml
Transferrin 200 188-341
High end iron, low ferritin...
High iron levels and hashimotos
high iron and low ferritin,thyroid meds
Low-ish Ferritin & high Serum Iron
Low Ferritin High Serum Iron
Jrbarnes
Out of interest you could retest iron panel, I haven't found improving B vitamin levels increased my ferritin level.
I'm told that my iron is fine or that the ferritin should be closer to 50.
Who told you that your Ferritin should be closer to 50? It's only just below that now. I have read that for a male 150 is a good level. The range for your Ferritin is a lot narrower than we normally see for males, it's usually about 30-400.
The rest of your iron panel is good and taking iron tablets will push serum iron too high. You only need to increase Ferritin and probably the best way is to eat liver weekly, no more than 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content.
HI,
I'm female. I updated my profile to reflect that. I'm in the US if that means anything, perhaps the reference is different. edit* I'll give the liver a try if I can locate it at my local grocery....not that I'm too fond of it
OK, so for a female I have seen that a good level is 100-130. The range here in the UK is usually 13-150.
I didn't know if a Ferritin level of 47 was low and why my % saturation was flagged high.
If you’re still having monthly periods it’s ok to supplement but if you’re in or approaching menopause I’ve been told by my doctor to be prudent with the dosages. I’ve lived in the US and UK, now in France. Each country has different views on ideal iron level.
Hopefully, based upon my mother and her sister I can put that off for another ten or so years. I consider that to be the second battle of the thyroid!
I'm doing both at once, keeps me busy! lol