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
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
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.
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
That’s disappointing., I can’t stop supplements again to do a mediChecks test..but in the future I won’t bother with GPs.. surprised the endocrinologist didn’t get these done., especially as I’ve been given T3
I’ll let you know how it goes with calling Gp surgery in regards to infusion and stress that I only get one chance at the T3 trail..I've waited years and it’s been a hard battle over the past year..
I’ve had a full iron panel,, I did add it to my post from last week.
I’ll open the capsule and take half as you suggest.. thank you.,
Your knowledge and support is invaluable..as the endo is very dismissive.. and not given me the results of the tests she requested..only the thyroid ones..
I’m vegetarian ., I don’t like meat, I do eat fish sometimes and more so since last year.. I will be getting 3 arrows and taking that..
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