After a extremely stressful year (not just covid) I am having considerable hair loss and depression so decided to do an iron test to see if this might be contributing.
Not sure how to interpreted these results so would welcome some help please.
Range in brackets.
IRON 18.10 umol/L (5.8 - 34.5)
TIBC 66.2 umol/L (45 - 72)
UIBC 48.10 umol/L (24.2 -70.1)
TRANSFERRIN SATURATION 27.34% (20 - 50)
FERRITIN 60.10ug/L (13 - 150)
WinnieH
Optimal levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 42.86% through range so on the lowish side.
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 27.34% so again on the lowish side.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)/Transferrin: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is 63.72% through range so neither high nor low.
Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC): This test measures how much transferrin isn’t attached to iron - but I don't have an optimal level for that.
Ferritin: Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation - we always recommend half way through range which would be around 82 with your range so just a bit low but certainly not dire.
I'm not medically trained but if those were my results I might want to increase my serum iron and saturation a bit along with my ferritin. You don't have iron deficiency so unless you have anaemia (full blood count will show that) then if it was me I wouldn't be taking iron tablets (should be done under guidance from GP really as it needs monitoring and regular testing) so I would be eating iron rich foods, eg liver weekly (no more than 200g due to high Vit A content) or liver pate, black pudding and other iron rich foods:
apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
Thank you so much for your help with the results. I'm semi-vegetarian, only eat chicken and fish, so may need to look at other ways to increase iron. I will look into this.
Do you think these results are low enough to contribute to hairloss?
WinnieH
Do you think these results are low enough to contribute to hairloss?
Could very well be, see
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
particularly the part where it says:
According to some experts, ferritin levels of at least 40 ng/ml are required to stop hair loss, while levels of at least 70 ng/ml are needed for hair regrowth. The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.
I used to be a demi-veggie only eating chicken and fish, until I found out my ferritin was low and no doubt contributing to my ill health so for the sake of my health I eat liver.
It's difficult with the diet. I used to 15 years ago I was completely vegetarian and because of my health I started eating chicken and fish. I can't get past the eating mammals idea. Have tried but it makes me feel physically sick.
I have spatone but perhaps I can try liver capsules!
WinnieH
Liver capsules didn't do a lot for me but I didn't give it very long. Some people have done OK with them. However, to get enough iron from them I think it could be quite expensive.
As you eat chicken how about chicken livers, they have the highest amount of iron compared with other liver. You could make pate. One member cooks it and whizzes it, mixes with mayonnaise and takes a spoonful each day. Check out the other iron rich foods from the link I gave you, maybe an internet search will throw up some more ideas.
That's a good idea. Thank you I'll try that.
Hope you don't mind me asking another question (or should I post another question) but all this started after trying T3.
I had felt low for a while and decided to try T3. After testing my thyroid I added 6mcg T3 to my thyroxine and felt amazing. The best for 20 years. But after 2 weeks my hair was falling, I persevered on the 6mcg for 4 months but then stopped. Hair stopped falling but a couple of months later started again even though off T3.
Do you think trying T3 in the presence of low iron would cause this? Or trying T3 with stress could have?
I had a major stressful event prior to this which is ongoing.
WinnieH
It might be best to make a new thread about this to get others' opinions. I have not suffered with hair loss (and am lucky enough to be blessed with a thick head of hair, like most of my family) so I have no experience. The only time my hair is affected is if I am undermedicated then more hair is shed when I wash it than usual.
Help with test results please
Iron levels -test results
Ferritin, Iron & Iron Binding - Haemochromatosis / Iron Avidity / Iron Overload - Blood results
iron test
