Help with iron results

[Becsf]

Posting again as for some reason had no replies last time.

Recently had an iron panel and ferritin blood test with following results.

Ferritin - 46 (13-150)

Iron - 21.6 (6.6-26)

Unsaturated iron binding - 21.3 LOW (24.2-70.1)

Total iron binding capacity - 43 (41-77)

Iron binding saturation - 50 (15-50)

I have been supplementing with Three Arrows - 2 per day for last 10 weeks (none taken for 4 days before the test). So that increased my ferritin, but only by 10 and my serum iron is now approaching top of the range.

Should I keep going with the Three Arrows or hold back? I struggle to understand the other results so would really appreciate some help there.

I am also trying to conceive so I know I need to get my ferritin up further.

I generally have been feeling much better, now I've switched to NDT and my thyroid results are finally optimal. But I still get some fatigue, and the feeling of everything taking a lot more effort than it should - (like I'm wading through treacle.

Any advice would be very much appreciated, thank you.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

As you say, serum iron is on the high side and TIBC is on the low side which indicates lack of capacity for supplementing.

Usual recommendation for raising ferritin when serum iron is good is to increase dietary sources of iron. Chicken liver pate a few times a week helps many. Also drink orange juice with it to increase absorption.

Link with ideas for dietary iron:

dailyiron.net/

How are your other vitamins?

[Becsf in reply to GlowCoach]

Oh really, so I should stop the Three Arrows now?

And what does it mean that my unsaturated iron binding is low and iron-binding saturation is high?

I have been trying with chicken liver pate but the one I made was inedible! Will try again.

Other vitamins:

(17 June 2024)

vit d - 111 (50-250) - I have upped my vit d supplement

Vitamin B12 Active - 128 (37,5-188)

Folate - sample error - I will get this retested. Last time it was tested a year ago the result came back simply over 20.

I also had a full blood count in April 2024. Results were:

White cell count - 4.36 (3-10)

Red Cell count - 4.78 (3.95-5.15)

Haemoglobin - 143 (115-155)

HCT - 0.424 (0.39-0.45)

MCV - 88.7 (80=99)

MCH - 29.9 (27-33.5)

MCHC - 337 (320-360)

RDW - 11.8 (11,5-15) %

Platelets count - 241 (150-400)

MPV - 10.1 (7-13)

Neutrophils - 2.30 (2-7.5)

Lymphocytes - 1.61 (1.2-3.65)

Monocytes - 0.38 (0.2-1)

Does this shed any light on anything?

Thanks so much!

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Becsf]

According to your iron panel results you dont have capacity to continue to take an iron supplement, so to raise ferritin further you will need to focus on dietary means.

There are a few brands selling chicken liver pate which can be quite tasty. Have a look and see what your local supermarket has in stock.

Iron is a very complicated test and hard to understand or explain. I'll post you a link to explain some of it: webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/wha...

I dont really understand full blood count results but it looks like you dont have an infection anyway and you're probably not anaemic.

[FallingInReverse in reply to Becsf]

With you numbers - especially :

Iron binding saturation - 50 (15-50)

Which I am assuming is saturation percent, right?

You should stop three arrows. Not sure if you worked up to 2 a day, and if you have results from when you maybe were taking less?

But it would be best if you started again… stop supplementing, get your saturation percent down to mid-range.

You should also include CRP-hs on every iron panel to understand if inflammation is impacting your ferritin results.

[Becsf in reply to FallingInReverse]

Yes it's saturation %.

CRP-HS (inflammation) was 0.169 (0-3) in June 2024, so presumably it's not affecting my ferritin levels.

[LynLyn]

I’m not sure this will help but it may be of interest to you. I have similar iron panel results and I’m looking for ways to improve ferritin alongside an iron rich diet so I’ve started taking Lactoferrin. I’ve no idea if it will work but I thought it was worth a try as i’ve read some positive reviews and I find supplementing with iron somewhat tricky.

lactoferrin.co/blogs/articl...

[Becsf in reply to LynLyn]

oh wow, that's interesting. I see there are two types -apolactoferrin and native lactroferrin. Which did you go for? Do you know how quickly it is supposed to work? And is it something you need to keep testing regularly with (I'd assume so).

Thanks so much for the suggestion.

[LynLyn in reply to Becsf]

Hi. I’ve gone with the Lactoferrin as it’s already bound so it should increase ferritin. I’ve started this week taking the supplement so will test in October. It’s a case of trial and error as I don’t know how it will work!

[Becsf in reply to LynLyn]

Oh fantastic, thank you. Does it maintain your iron levels as well or do you need a smaller dose of some form of iron to do that?

Thank you all v much

[LynLyn in reply to Becsf]

I’m hoping it will sustain my ferritin level without the need for iron supplementation. I’ve just started to try this supplement so I’ll test in 8 weeks to see how things are. I’m also making an effort to eat an iron rich diet every day. I find keeping my ferritin level optimal very difficult.

[FallingInReverse in reply to LynLyn]

Lyn and Becsf

Contrary to the misleading name - lactoferrin is not a ferritin supplement. Technically there’s no such thing in context of trying to increase ferritin alone.

Ferritin is a protein. It’s a protein in which iron is stored. So the only way to increase ferritin is the delicate and nuanced management of actual iron intake, and when iron in your blood is sufficient for running all your body’s essential functions that need iron - your body will send some to storage (ie, the ferritin protein.)

Taking lactoferrin and similarly named/marketed supplements serves to enhance your iron absorption.

Which is a good thing … unless you don’t have an issue with iron. Which many of us don’t actually. Iron is pretty quick moving for many of us - up and down.

The issue is that we need to maintain a Goldilocks amount of iron - not too little and definitely not too much. The rub in the whole thing is that excess iron is toxic. It causes irreversible organ damage.

Lactoferrin - since at best it will serve to aid in iron absorption - has less risks that iron supplementation for iron toxicity.

But keep in mind - it’s not a ferritin supplement by any means.

[LynLyn in reply to FallingInReverse]

Thank you so much for this explanation. It’s very helpful! I have good levels of iron in my blood from my diet so hopefully this will help. I’m trialling for 3 months and will test in October. If it doesn’t work it’ll be back to iron tablets. It’s difficult working out how much to take. I think it’s worth a try to see and I’m hoping for the best!

[FallingInReverse in reply to LynLyn]

Looking forward to your results! From what I’ve read theoretically it’s got lots of benefits.

Please tag me in 3 months if you remember, I’d love to hear how it goes!

[LynLyn in reply to FallingInReverse]

I will. I don’t want to be supplementing iron unless I absolutely have to! I have read many of your responses to questions on the forum and find your expertise most helpful. Thank you so much for helping today. I’m very grateful.

[Becsf in reply to FallingInReverse]

So are you saying that lactoferrin will likely maintain your ferritin levels rather than increase them? I think I will try it anyway, as don't want my ferritin to go down now I'm not taking the iron. Wish there was a ferrin supplement!

Thanks LynLyn and FallingInReverse

[FallingInReverse in reply to Becsf]

Not really. It’s helpful to understand the basics of iron and ferritin in general.

It starts with ingesting iron itself, part of that iron is absorbed, then that iron is transported to all the body’s essential functions that need it, and when that is satisfied, the body is comfortable sending some iron to storage (ie, it is stored within the ferritin protein.)

Lactoferrin is a very misleading name. It will not bypass that process to increase ferritin at the end of the road.

There are benefits of lactoferrin, although studies have shown it’s hit or miss.

Benefits include anti-inflammatory and immune supporting benefits. But importantly, the way it helps iron is by aiding in iron absorption. And yes, iron absorption will ultimately in turn increases ferritin. But lactoferrin does not skip any steps in the process. It does not simply impact ferritin.

As I’m writing this, I’m just thinking, that while there are fewer risks to taking this than taking iron supplements themselves… the effect of these will also be to improve iron absorption. Logically, if you are one of those people who has no issue getting their serum iron into range… then this might just serve to push iron over range.

Edit: but I do agree it sounds like a safer step for those not wanting /able to take iron supplements. I have zero experience at all in the impact of lactoferrin on serum iron and iron toxicity. I recco same rules apply - treat it like an iron supplement, test frequently, until you fully understand how your own body reacts to iron.

Here’s how lactoferrin helps absorption and iron use. Iron binds to lactoferrin so you’ll digest/absorb more. The intestines (where iron absorbs) has lactoferrin receptors - also enhancing iron absorption. Lactoferrin therefore also reduces iron available in the gut (because iron binds to it) and bacteria feeds on iron… so less iron in the gut, less infections are fed. Lactoferrin is also anti-inflammatory. Lactoferrin can also moderate hepcidin (which are part of the body’s natural defenses that fight off excess iron) hence increasing iron absorption.

So you’ll notice that nothing in lactoferrin increases ferritin necessarily.

Lactoferrin helps with iron absorption - which for some of us isn’t the hard part, as we all strive to keep serum iron below 70% through range. And then it’s up to the usual body processes to go from iron to ferritin.