Iron Results

[Batty1]

Can anyone give me some advice/insight in Iron results.

Iron levels: Now and August 

Ferritin: 21 (15-150) Aug test (16)

TIBC: 305 (250-450) Aug test (311)

UIBC: 242 (131-425) Aug test (263)

Iron: 63 (27-159) Aug test (48)

Iron saturation: 21 (15-55) Aug Test (15)

What could cause the ups and downs in results …. I’ve been supplementing since August 2022…. I did stop supplement few days before test.

[radd]

Batty1,

Iron naturally fluctuates due to a diurnal variation (am- highest, pm-lowest), and fasting status as is so rapidly absorbed. Even a steak and glass of red wine the night before the blood draw can falsely inflate results. Tests therefore must be like-for-like but even then health conditions involving inflammation can alter iron status. 

I understood iron supplements shouldn’t be stopped longer than 24 hours before testing as given the rate iron can fall you need to know your supplementing iron status without a false high. Therefore, these levels show your iron status several days after stopping and so would expected to be slightly lowered.  

[Batty1 in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd, I also had inflammation markers (C-reactive and ESR) tested at same time because I have psoriatic arthritis and my C-reactive was pretty good for the first time in 6 years but my ESR was through the roof which it actually had dropped into normal levels PRIOR to me having Covid in October….. I wonder if having high inflammation causes low iron or is it the other way around? As far as diet for my August Iron test I didn’t fast at all because I wasn’t even aware you had to fast for it until I read it on my blood order this time.

By stopping my Iron it shows Im making ground in iron … should I keep supplementing?

[radd in reply to Batty1]

Batty1,

'I wonder if having high inflammation causes low iron or is it the other way around? ' I don't suppose we'll ever know because these conditions drive each other.

I assume you are making slow ground 'because' of your supplementing, and seeings as ferritin is only 4% through range and serum iron is only 28% through range I would suggest you keep supplementing iron 😊.

[Batty1 in reply to radd]

do you have iron calculator?

[radd in reply to Batty1]

No, as have overload myself!

I have just googled it and come up with this. Any use?

nutrients.food-nutrients-ca...