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?
Low ferritin: Hi. I have just had an iron profile... - Thyroid UK
Low ferritin
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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
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...
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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.
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Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement
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Iron patches
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Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
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restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...
Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin
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Iron and thyroid link
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Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test
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Good iron but low ferritin
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Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low
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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
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Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism
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Ferritin range on Medichecks
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Inflammation affecting ferritin
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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. ‘
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What are your thyroid and other vitamin levels
Previous post showed low thyroid levels
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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
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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.
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.