Low ferritin

[Turquoisenona]

Hi. I have just had an iron profile done by my doctor and my serum ferritin has come back at 32 (30-148). She has said no further action is required as within lab range, but this is obviously very low. Can anyone recommend a good supplement please as I am feeling a bit tired and washed out?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before starting any iron supplements you need to get full iron panel test done

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Meanwhile…..Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good iron but low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin range on Medichecks

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Inflammation affecting ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes: 

Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L

Female's: 16-60: 30-150

Both >60: 30-650 

The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your thyroid and other vitamin levels

Previous post showed low thyroid levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Remember to stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before test…instead take separate methyl folate

Once you get results…..if vitamins are now optimal and Ft4 high in range but Ft3 remains low….next step is to get T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

List of thyroid specialists and endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Turquoisenona in reply to SlowDragon]

I am seeing a private doctor in November with a view to trialling T3. total white cell count was 4.5 (4-10)Red blood cell count 4.72(3.7-4.8)

Haemoglobin 141 (120-150)

Haematocrit 0.41(0.36-0.46)

MCV 87.5(83-101)

MCH 29.9(27-32)

Red blood cell distribution width 13 (11.6-14)

Platelet count 302(150-410)

Neutrophil count 2.6(2-7)

Lymphocyte count 1.5(1-3)

Monocyte count 0.3(0.2-1)

Eosinophil count 0.1(0-0.5)

Basophil count 0 (0.0-0.1)

TSH currently around 1 as I have increased my dosage slightly off of my own back and felt much better for it. But T4 and T3 around the same as before.

[Turquoisenona in reply to SlowDragon]

I am seeing a private doctor in November with a view to trialling T3. total white cell count was 4.5 (4-10)Red blood cell count 4.72(3.7-4.8)

Haemoglobin 141 (120-150)

Haematocrit 0.41(0.36-0.46)

MCV 87.5(83-101)

MCH 29.9(27-32)

Red blood cell distribution width 13 (11.6-14)

Platelet count 302(150-410)

Neutrophil count 2.6(2-7)

Lymphocyte count 1.5(1-3)

Monocyte count 0.3(0.2-1)

Eosinophil count 0.1(0-0.5)

Basophil count 0 (0.0-0.1)

TSH currently around 1 as I have increased my dosage slightly off of my own back and felt much better for it. But T4 and T3 around the same as before.