Iron blood test results - 15 wks pregnant

[Molly161018]

Inflammation

CRP HS 3.550 mg/L (Range: < 3)

Iron Status

Iron 19.3 umol/L (Range: 10 - 30)

TIBC 50.4 umol/L (Range: 45 - 81)

UIBC 31.1 umol/L (Range: 13 - 56)

Transferrin Saturation 38.3 % (Range: 25 - 45)

Ferritin 29.90 ug/L (Range: 30 - 169)

Hello all, above are my latest iron results. Looking at notes I've made previously, I believe the raised inflammation (no idea of the cause of this) is likely to have caused my ferrratin to drop? And the other results (saturation, iron and TIBC) all suggest I can't take any more iron...is this correct?? Any advice? Many thanks x

Also, just noticed that the ferrratin level on my thyroid test (which was done at the same time) is 40.6 ug/L... quite a difference there...any explanation?? Inflammation is slightly different too (3.51) but not as big a difference...

(Thyroid panel posted on a separate post)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Raised CRP is likely to INCREASE ferritin levels

Though your CRP is only just raised

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

ferritin is an acute-phase reactant that becomes elevated in response to inflammation,

Your ferritin is very low

look at increasing iron rich foods in your diet and discuss possible iron supplements with your GP

[Molly161018 in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh goodness I got that back to front!! Thanks for your reply, I have been on GP prescribed iron previously (after a c section) but this made me constipated so I moved over to gentle iron... couldn't I just increase this? I'm taking 1 x25mg Thorne iron bisglycinate capsule on alternate days.

[Molly161018 in reply to SlowDragon]

Also am I right in thinking the other levels indicate that I don't have scope for more iron, or have I got that back to front too?! 🙈

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Might help a bit?

helvella - Iron Panel

A short article about explaining what is meant by "iron panel" in relation to blood tests including some reference interval (range) information.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

AND

helvella - Iron Document

This is a summary of what I have read up and found out about iron supplements over the past few years. I am not in any way medically trained. You are strongly encouraged to check every detail before making any decisions for yourself.

Last updated 02/04/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Molly161018 in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella, appreciate your reply. Having read your blog and looking at a link to nice website I notice the following:

For pregnant women:

Serum ferritin level is considered to be a reliable indicator of iron deficiency in the first trimester (in the absence of infection or inflammation).

However, in the second and third trimesters it is of limited use, as serum ferritin levels fall independently of iron stores.

In women with adequate iron stores at conception, the serum ferritin concentration initially rises, followed by a progressive fall by 32 weeks to about 50% of the pre-pregnancy levels. This is due to haemodilution and mobilization of iron. The levels increase again slightly in the third trimester.

A serum ferritin concentration of less than 15 micrograms/L indicates iron depletion in all stages of pregnancy, and treatment should be considered when levels fall below 30 micrograms/L, as this indicates early iron depletion, which will continue to fall unless treated.

So I take it that this could mean my ferrratin levels are inaccurate anyway? And am I right in saying that the other levels on this test suggest I am taking enough?

Really appreciate your advice as I find iron all quite confusing!!!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Molly161018]

Everything I know is copied and collected!

As I read that paragraph you quote:

A serum ferritin concentration of less than 15 micrograms/L indicates iron depletion in all stages of pregnancy, and treatment should be considered when levels fall below 30 micrograms/L, as this indicates early iron depletion, which will continue to fall unless treated.

Your 29.90 makes it look to me as if you have just entered the below 30 zone. Hence treatment should be considered - but quite possibly only a modest dose. However, I do not know any more than that.

Iron is incredibly confusing. I suspect that someone will be creating AI tools for analysing iron and making treatment suggestions. And they will start to be used by doctors. It is too easy to not quite get your head around something. And we also need to adjust our understanding based on the real person, with real results, and all the oddities we have. Too much for many non-specialist doctors to achieve in the few seconds they can spend looking at results.

[Molly161018 in reply to helvella]

Oh yes roll on AI and it might be worth talking to a GP about it 😆

And yes you are right, I have only just dropped below the 30 mark, if at all (if you see my note at the bottom of my post, the ferrratin level on my thyroid test which was taken at the same time was 40.6!!)

Perhaps I'll add an extra capsule a couple of times a week and retest in a few weeks and see where we are then...