Confusing iron panel results

[Galadriel_BG]

Hi, guys,

I'd like to ask for help interpreting my iron panel results. First of all, let me say that this is the first time ever that I have had these tests done, so I don't have anything to compare with. This is what the results look like:

Hemoglobin: 155 g/l (reference range: 120 - 160 g/l)

Serum iron: 29.5 umol/l (= 165 ug/dl) (reference range: 6.6 - 34 umol/l)

TIBC = 53.2 umol/l (= 297.2 ug/dl) (reference range: 42 - 78 umol/l)

Ferritin: 47 ng/ml (reference range: 6 - 186 ng/ml)

Transferrin: 2.47 g/l (reference range: 2 - 3.6 g/l)

Transferrine saturation % = 55.56%

As far as I can see, I have relatively high serum iron, borderline high saturation percentage and relatively low ferritin. What is this supposed to mean and do I need to supplement with iron? I have been taking betaine HCL for 45-50 days now (1 capsule with breakfast, lunch and supper) and I think that may be this is why my iron levels are this high in range, so maybe my ferritin hasn't caught up to them yet? I am really at a loss here.

By the way, I have been taking 1000 mcg of B12 for the past 3 weeks and had taken one on the day before the test - can that have skewed the results?

As for symptoms of anemia or iron deficiency, I've never really had any, although I had quite heavy periods for more than 10 years.

The reason I had an iron panel done is that I have been taking higher and higher doses of T4 and a relatively high dose of T3, but have had very little improvement in terms of symptoms. I don't feel hyper, I just don't feel the medicines working. I've been reading Paul Robinson's "Recovering with T3" and it hit me it might be a good idea to get some tests and do some detective work to try and find out what is going on.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

[HealthStarDust]

Trust me! These are always confusing the more you look into it!

[Galadriel_BG in reply to HealthStarDust]

They are, aren't they? The more I read, the dumber I feel.

[HealthStarDust in reply to Galadriel_BG]

It’s not you. Trust me! I and many have had similar. And, what’s even more confusing is the actually optimum ferritin number is not range based, which just adds to the confusion.

I’m sure one of the admins will be along soon to help.

[humanbean]

Hemoglobin: 155 g/l (reference range: 120 - 160 g/l)

Serum iron: 29.5 umol/l (= 165 ug/dl) (reference range: 6.6 - 34 umol/l) 84% through range

TIBC = 53.2 umol/l (= 297.2 ug/dl) (reference range: 42 - 78 umol/l) 31% througn range

Ferritin: 47 ng/ml (reference range: 6 - 186 ng/ml) 23% through range

Transferrin: 2.47 g/l (reference range: 2 - 3.6 g/l) 29% through range

Transferrin saturation % = 55.56%

For suggested optimal levels for iron-related tests :

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Note, it is quite common for results in an iron panel to be contradictory.

...

Hemoglobin : I don't know what an optimal level for hemoglobin would be, sorry. You could look up "optimal levels for hemoglobin" and see what you can find.

.

Serum iron : According to the rt3-adrenals link above :

• 55 to 70% of the range

• higher end for men

Given that your result is 84% through the range and you are female I would say your result is too high, suggesting that you shouldn't supplement iron.

.

TIBC (total iron binding capacity) or Transferrin

• Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron

• High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron

Your TIBC is 31% through the range and your transferrin is 29% through the range, both of which are in the lower half of the range. This suggests that you don't have the capacity for more iron.

.

Ferritin : 23% through range (6 - 186 ng/mL)

Optimal for ferritin depends on source. Some people aim for mid-range which is 96 for your range. Other suggestions are 90 - 110 ng/mL according to this link :

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Your result is too low by a substantial margin, suggesting that you need more iron.

.

Transferrin Saturation : Your result = approximately 56%

• optimal is 35 to 45%

• higher end for men

Your Saturation is higher than optimal suggesting that your iron levels are too high.

.

Based on your results it seems likely that you have plenty of iron but it is not spread well between serum iron and ferritin.

High iron and low ferritin is often a sign that people have a gene issue with methylation.

For more info and how to deal with it see this reply in another thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

.

Do you have results for Vitamin B12 and folate?

If you've been taking supplements of these what are they made of?

Do you take a B Complex supplement? If yes, what kind?

[Galadriel_BG in reply to humanbean]

Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, I had B12 and folic acid done as well (not folate, they didn't have that). I have been supplementing with B12 (methylcobalamin), 1000 mg, for 3 weeks now and didn't stop before the test. My level is 1025 pg/ml (RR 191 - 663) - this looks like a good level.

As for folic acid, it says 5.4 ng/ml (RR 3.1 - 17.5) - this seems low.

I am not supplementing with B complex, but I do supplement with 100 mg of B1 (thiamin HCL), 1500 mg of B5 (froom calcium pantothenate) and 300 mg of pantethine - I am hoping the B5 and pantethine can help with my sleep issues.

[humanbean in reply to Galadriel_BG]

Folate and folic acid are not exactly the same thing. I wrote a post and dumped lots of info in it about folate / folic acid. You might find it of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Galadriel_BG in reply to humanbean]

Yes, I know that. But I am not sure if I can find anywhere that they test folate. And I am not sure either if what they really mean is folic acid or folate. It might well be folate (probably is). Can you even test for folic acid in someone's serum? In Bulgarian it does say "folic acid", but they probably mean folate.

[humanbean in reply to Galadriel_BG]

I did ask a testing company whether they were testing folate + folic acid, or folate alone, or folic acid alone.

The reply I got was patronising and not informative. One of these days I will ask again, if I remember, and try and get a better answer.

[Galadriel_BG in reply to humanbean]

This is what I found: cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/fa... It seems that folic acid is synthetic, but the form you measure in blood is folate.