Iron blood test results are back, please could you take a look for me?

[Alternatively]

In a previous post I gave my Ferritin result from a blood test in March (this was 36.90) and I was recommended to check my other iron levels before taking iron supplements . I now have these results back and would be really grateful if you could let me know your thoughts please :

Medichecks BLOOD TEST results: 25/4/25:

Iron Status:

Iron. 24 umol/L. (5.8-34.5)

TIBC. 65 umol/L. (45-81)

Transferrin saturation 36.8 %. (20-50)

Ferritin. 52.6 ug/L. (13-150)

Red blood cells:

Haemoglobin. 135 g/L. (120-160)

Haematocrit 0.421 L/L. (0.35-0.47)

Red cell count. 4.6 x10^12/L. (3.8-5.8)

MCV. 91.5 fL (81-98)

MCH. 29.3 pg. (27-33)

MCHC. 321 g/L. (300-350)

RDW. 13.6 %. (11.5-14.4)

Folate. 14.78 ug/L. (3.89-26.8)

Vitamin B12. 150 pmol/L (37.5-150)

Vitamin D. 162 nmol/L. (50-175)

So wondered How do these Iron levels look to you ? Do I need to take iron supplements do you think?

Since my previous test in March, I have been making sure my (vegetarian) meals have contained iron and vitamin C, and was happy to see that my ferritin level has got a bit better.

I have begun taking Iggenus B Vitamins to increase my Folate. (After this blood test)

One more question if I could please …… I would like to try some T3 medication but what levels do my Ferritin and Folate have to be at before I can begin taking T3? My T4 is high in the range and my T3 is on the low side of the range on 75mg Levothyroxine . TSH 0.35.

Thankyou so much for taking the time to read this, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this knowledgeable forum .

[RedApple Administrator]

Sorry you've not had any response to your question Alternatively. I can't help but my reply will bring your post back up the news feed, and hopefully someone knowledgeable will see it. 😊

[Alternatively in reply to RedApple]

Many thanks for that RedApple 🙏🏼

[pennyannie]

Hey there -

I now maintain my ferritin at around 100 - folate around 20 - active B12 125 ( serum 500++ ) and vitamin D around 125.

My ferritin was at 22 - and my research led me to believe no thyroid hormone replacement works well until ferritin gets over 70 :

So you are almost ' there ' and just think once optimised you 'll do better on whatever thyroid hormone replacement you choose to use.

[Alternatively in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks Pennyannie, I’m trying really hard with my iron consumption! I even bought some chicken liver pate, but haven’t quite managed to try it yet! 😣

[pennyannie in reply to Alternatively]

I make my own - chicken livers are relatively mild - flash fry in a little olive oil -

whizz down into a mush and store in the fridge in an old jam-jar -

and a good dollop of Hellmans mayo helps a spoonful of this medicine go down daily throughout the week.

Maximum intake should be around 200 grams a week - and now I have to rely on Waitrose where there are frozen packs x 250 grams.