B12 & ferritin results: My B12 is 179 (110-90... - Thyroid UK

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B12 & ferritin results

My B12 is 179 (110-900) and ferritin is 33 (30-339). GP thinks b12 is normal but she wants to discuss ferritin. What can cause this? I usually supplement. I have medical anxiety so worried there may be something nasty going on.

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Girlslovescifi

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Buddy195Administrator11 days ago

As your ferritin is at the low end of the scale, I would ask for a full iron panel to be completed, as iron supplements are not recommended without having this.

Ive had low ferritin in the past- as a first step, try introducing more iron rich foods into your diet (dailyiron.net is useful for highlighting iron rich foods).

helvellaAdministrator11 days ago

110 is a very low bottom of range for a serum B12 test.

There has been discussion about why some UK labs have such low lower ends - and it is not complimentary to those who decided on them.

More typical is around 180 to 220.

Are you in a position to get an Active B12 test done?

And, yes, your ferritin is too low (it is only marginally in range - as you know).

In my view, you need a Full Blood Count, and an iron panel.

In an awful lot of people, low B12 is due to inadequate dietary B12 and not taking any (or not sufficient) B12 supplements to compensate. And can be addressed simply by taking a B12 supplement regularly. (E.g. at least 50 micrograms of B12 in any form every day.) Some need a higher dose (e.g. 1000 micrograms) and do better on methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin or even adenosylcobalamin.

But I see that your B12 has dropped in the past six months.

If you are regularly supplementing B12 and it is still falling, I think you need to review your dosing and have Pernicious Anaemia considered.

Regarding ferritin, again, it is likely you are not getting enough iron in forms you can absorb. That is more likely than any other reason. Again, review your iron intake and consider whether you need to increase your intake. But definitely more comprehensive testing is required. Which would also tend to help understand whether your low B12 is having an impact (e.g. on mean cell volume).

And ,while you are at it, get at least folate tested.

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.

Last updated 18/07/2024

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

Girlslovescifi• in reply tohelvella11 days ago

Thank you. I eat chicken and fish. I had a hip replacement 3 months ago. Not sure if that’s related.

helvellaAdministrator• in reply toGirlslovescifi11 days ago

It might have contributed. But the issues exist now and need action now.

Few of us see B12 or iron (ferritin) improve without taking specific action. Even if both were improving now you have had your hip replacement, a helping hand in the form of appropriate supplementation would likely help you reach repletion sooner rather than later.

Eating chicken and fish could well have kept you from being even worse, but it appears not to be enough.

Ironically, if someone suddenly switched to a diet low in iron and low in B12 (for the sake of an example, a poorly considered plant-only diet), their ferritin and B12 might well drop quote quickly. And when discovered, they might have been low in ferritin and B12 for a limited time. And, if obviously severe, they might get urgent and strong action. Whereas if someone is getting just a bit less than they need, it can take years to be identified. And any action is also likely to be low level, gentle, mild. Yet it is this second case which is likely to accumulate more damage through being low in ferritin and B12 for a much longer time.

Girlslovescifi• in reply tohelvella11 days ago

I had these done too.

Test

Girlslovescifi• in reply tohelvella11 days ago

and this one

Tests

helvellaAdministrator• in reply toGirlslovescifi11 days ago

Afraid that there is nothing there that I can really comment on.

When results are very obviously "wrong" it is easy to point at them and identify possible causes. But with less obvious results, someone who really understands is needed for interpretation.

Marz11 days ago

Low B12 could well be contributing to your anxiety....

Buddy195Administrator11 days ago

Increased anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me and it is always worse if thyroid medication or key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins B12 and D) are not optimal.

Girlslovescifi• in reply toBuddy19511 days ago

Thank you

SlowDragonAdministrator11 days ago

Anaesthetic can significantly lower B12

b12-vitamin.com/anesthesia/

NHS only tests for and treats vitamin deficiencies…..as your B12 is (just) within range…..GP unlikely to treat

But many, many people on replacement thyroid hormones need to supplement vitamin B complex daily to maintain good B vitamins

Some need separate B12 as well, especially initially

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement

A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

In-depth article on different forms of B12

perniciousanemia.org/b12/fo...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate