Iron test results - 6 weeks pregnant

[Molly161018]

Hello again

My last iron test results suggested I was oversupplementing, so I reduced it to 1 Thorne Iron, alternate days.

I have since found out I'm pregnant, but not sure that it makes any difference to what I'm doing...guess it will just need monitoring as we go, as iron is one of the things that can drop isn't it...?

CRP HS 1.360 mg/L (Range: < 3)

Iron 19.0 umol/L (Range: 10 - 30)

TIBC 48.1 umol/L (Range: 45 - 81)

UIBC 29.1 umol/L (Range: 13 - 56)

Transferrin Saturation 39.5 % (Range: 25 - 45)

Ferritin 65.10 ug/L (Range: 30 - 169)

Would appreciate any advice!

humanbean you were very helpful on my previous results 😊

[humanbean]

CRP HS 1.360 mg/L (Range: < 3)

Iron 19.0 umol/L (Range: 10 - 30) 45% through range

TIBC 48.1 umol/L (Range: 45 - 81) 8.61% through range

UIBC 29.1 umol/L (Range: 13 - 56) 37.44% through range

Transferrin Saturation 39.5 % (Range: 25 - 45) Optimal

Ferritin 65.10 ug/L (Range: 30 - 169) 25.25% through the range

Your previous thread where I gave chapter and verse on your results can be found here :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

CRP (a measure of inflammation) has more than halved compared to your last results which is good news.

Iron Previous result 79.5% through the range which was a bit higher than optimal, current result 45% through the range is a bit lower than optimal. I suggested lowering your dose of iron last time, I'm suggesting this time that you take one extra iron tablet per week to see if it helps, and in future don't increase or decrease by more than one tablet a week. I think pregnancy might end up changing things dramatically, but big changes up or down are probably best avoided while your serum iron stays as close to optimal as it is at the moment.

TIBC Your result has hardly changed from last time. I wouldn't worry about it.

UIBC This has increased slightly since last time which is not surprising since you reduced your dose of iron supplements. I wouldn't worry about it.

Saturation Your current result has reduced quite a bit and is now optimal. This is good news .

Ferritin This has reduced by a tiny bit. I don't think the change is significant. It would be ideal if your ferritin was slightly higher but given that your CRP has reduced, your iron is not bad at all, and your saturation is optimal, I wouldn't suggest doing anything other than increasing by one iron tablet a week.

When I was trying to maintain, rather than increase, my iron panel results I used to take 2 - 5 tablets per week and only changed by one up or down if necessary. It worked for me but then I was never pregnant while I was trying to maintain my levels. Hopefully this plan will work for you too, but I don't know what effect pregnancy will have. Your iron requirements will be higher now that you are pregnant so perhaps you might need to make bigger adjustments later.

[Molly161018 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks so much humanbean, very in depth and helpful reply as always! Yes perhaps I will have to test every 2 months during pregnancy to keep a closer eye on my iron and vitamin levels.