After finding my ferritin levels were low as part of a full iron panel from Thriva in October (and on advice from my GP once she found out I am vegetarian), I started supplementing with liquid iron (15mg per day). After re-testing my iron panel 5 weeks later several of the results have got quite a bit worse. This confused me as the results from the first iron panel I did back in July weren’t hugely different from the ones in October. Results below:
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC):
July 61
October 63
November 64
(Range 41-77 umol/L)
Transferrin saturation:
July 40
October 37
November 27
(Range 20-50%)
Ferritin:
July 44
October 36
November 26
(Range 15-150ug/L)
Iron:
July 24.1
October 23.6
November 17.1
(Range 5.8-34.5umol/L)
Unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC):
July 37.1
October 39.1
November 47
(Range 24.2-70.1umol/L)
It seems unlikely that supplementing a small dose of iron would do this, is there another explanation?! After these results I changed to a tablet form of iron with a dose of 20mg per day, which I take with fruit as a source of vitamin C. I will retest in the new year and see if things improve.
Other info: I have just started taking NDT but the first dose was after these results. I have been vegetarian for a few years but usually include quite a few sources of iron in my diet.
Thanks in advance for if anyone has any advice or guidance, I feel like I’m struggling with Hashimoto’s symptoms enough without heading towards iron deficiency as well!