I must admit that even after a few years, while I mostly understand my thyroid test results, my iron tests continue to confuse me - I just can’t seem to get my head around the significance of the different parts.
So I wondered if someone who actually understands could please explain in really simple terms what on earth it all means - and if I need to do anything about it!
medichecks full iron blood test
CRP HS 1.42 range 0-3
Iron 24.9 range 10-30
TIBC 55.7 range 45-81
UIBC 30.8 range 13-56
Transferrin saturation 44.7 range 25-45
Ferritin 55.3 range 30-150
I took no supplements for a week or so before the test and haven’t taken anything with iron in for at least a couple of months.
I’m on 2 grains of NDT and I also take Q10, B12, vit d, vit c, magnesium, selenium, HCL with betaine, pregnenolone and a probiotic - no idea if any of these would affect my iron levels??
My initial (very simplistic) reaction is that my ferritin is low so I need to take a supplement, but other results especially the transferrin saturation seem very high so I am at a loss to know if that’s the right thing to do.
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Mazes
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Hi gingernut, it’s taken me a while as I’ve been quite unwell this week but I’ve now had a long search through humanbean replies to iron questions and also had a search through old posts and I can’t find anyone with the same results as me that doesn’t have another thing that I don’t have which explains their results. Does that make sense?
Please note that having contradictory iron results is common.
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CRP - This is a measure of inflammation. It is non-specific so won't tell you where any inflammation is (if you have any). Your result is well in range suggesting that any inflammation you might have is minor, and nothing to worry about. Optimal is less than 1.
If CRP is high it can alter the interpretation of your ferritin result, but with your CRP being well in range this doesn't apply to you. When CRP is high it can make ferritin look better than it really is, but this is not relevant in your case.
Iron - Optimal is :
• 55 to 70% of the range
• higher end for men
Your result of 74% of the way through the range is higher than optimal. If you have been taking iron supplements then you should stop taking them for now.
TIBC
• Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron
With a result in the lower half of the range this suggests that you don't have the capacity for additional iron.
Saturation - Optimal is :
• optimal is 35 to 45%
• higher end for men
Your result of 44.7 is higher than optimal. This agrees with your earlier result for serum iron. If you are taking iron supplements then you should stop taking them for now.
Ferritin
Ferritin is a measure of your iron stores. Optimal for ferritin varies according to the source of the information and also according to the reference range for the test.
With the range you've been given, optimal is often quoted as being roughly 90 - 110 micrograms/L.
Your result of 55.3 / 21% through the range is suggesting that you need more iron.
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With your higher than optimal level of iron and saturation the chances are that if you took more iron in the hope of raising your ferritin you would raise your iron and saturation higher than it already is without actually improving your ferritin and this is not desirable. I think you have a mild case of Anaemia of Chronic Disease (ACD). This condition is described here :
With ACD there is usually a drop in haemoglobin, and it may drop below the reference range if the ACD is bad enough. Haemoglobin is measured as a part of a Full Blood Count. Haemoglobin below range would suggest you are anaemic. But people can have low iron or iron deficiency with or without anaemia. I don't think, on the basis of the results you've given, that you have a dramatic problem with iron and I doubt very much if you are anaemic.
If you are feeling unwell it is more likely to be poorly treated thyroid disease, or poor gut health, or low or high levels of cortisol, or low levels of some other nutrients other than iron or ferritin.
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