Dessicated BeefLiver Supplements instead of Iron Supplements? Would they be safe for someone with low ferritin but not anaemic do you think?

[Alternatively]

I would like to increase my Ferritin levels but I’m one of those that can’t take iron supplements because the rest of my iron levels, including transferrin saturation, are good. Therefore I should try to increase Ferritin levels via my diet. Unfortunately I can’t eat meat in any form, haven’t done so in 50 years, although I could swallow a capsule containing meat derivatives. I’ve tried eating increased amounts of non heme foods but my Ferritin is not responding.

And so I’m wondering about the merits of taking Dessicated Beef Liver Supplements? which are freeze dried powdered liver in a capsule.

My question is, do you think this would count as a food within your diet, or would it be as dangerous as taking an iron supplement for someone with low ferritin but who is not anaemic ?

Anyone tried them?

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Have you looked at the condition IDWA? Iron deficiency without anaemia?

It’s what I have, from heavy periods caused by fibroids. My HB and transferrin etc are all normal, ferritin without supplements is on the floor. It’s common for folks on the forum to have this. Not saying you have, we are all different 😊

I take heme supplements Three Arrows Simply Heme and it does the trick for me, it is one of these dried stuff in a capsule type supplements.

I’ve looked at those desiccated beef liver ones, definitely worth a try. Maybe compare the main helpful ingredient quantity per dose to Three Arrows and see how they compare. I think I avoided last time as they work out quite expensive and 200g lambs liver a week as pate and meals didn’t raise it enough and I’d had enough.

[Alternatively in reply to Regenallotment]

Many thanks for the information. I will Google all about IDWA! My Ferritin level fluctuates in the 30’s and 40’s.

So just to check, the three arrows product (and presumably the Dessicated liver) is safe to take if you have IDWA whereas other iron supplements should be avoided unless you are anaemic ?

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Alternatively]

Here is a link … aim for 100!

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

Yes Heme iron works for IDWA, just ensure you test again in 3 months.

😊

[Alternatively in reply to Regenallotment]

Oh that’s good to know, because I had it in my head from somewhere that you should only take iron supplements if you were anaemic, and if it was only your Ferritin that’s low, then you should only increase it by eating iron rich foods. But I’d rather go down the supplement route.

Thankyou for the link.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Alternatively]

I found my ferritin didn’t rise with iron rich foods. No matter how hard I tried. So for me supplements was the option that worked but I also test regularly to ensure my ferritin doesn’t go too high.

[humanbean in reply to Alternatively]

I had it in my head from somewhere that you should only take iron supplements if you were anaemic,

The problem with iron is that people can have high ferritin (iron stores) and low serum iron. Or low ferritin and high serum iron. Or serum iron is "normal" or mid-range while ferritin is high or low. Basically any combination you can think of.

In those situations it is often the case that if the patient starts to supplement iron while their ferritin is high there is a good chance that their iron supplements just raises their ferritin even further than it already is while their serum iron stays low. Or the reverse can happen if serum iron is high and ferritin is low - their serum iron may go sky high.

Having one of ferritin or serum iron being high and getting higher while the other is low or "normal" is not good for one's health. The excess iron can get deposited in the brain and/or other organs, and there is no natural way to get rid of the iron. The only known solution to that problem is regular therapeutic phlebotomy until the iron/ferritin are back well within their respective ranges.

Both serum iron and ferritin have uses within the body. If iron is supplemented it might end up in places it isn't wanted, and the same goes for ferritin. The body should release iron from ferritin when needed, and should store iron in ferritin when needed.

To alter the ratio of iron to ferritin to something healthier usually requires "methyl donors". The most popular way of getting methyl donors is to take methylfolate in place of folic acid (which must be avoided). The others I know of are Methyl-B12 (Methylcobalamin), TMG (Trimethylglycine), DMG (Dimethylglycine), or MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). All of the substances with methyl donors that I've mentioned are available without prescription on sites selling supplements e.g. Amazon. If B12 and folate are at good levels you should try one of the other methyl donors.

[Alternatively in reply to humanbean]

That’s really interesting about methyl donors altering the ratio, something I’ve not heard of before. So if I took MSM for instance, could that have the effect of lowering my transferrin saturation and haemoglobin levels but increase my ferritin?

[humanbean in reply to Alternatively]

It has done that for some people, but there are no guarantees.

My suggestions aren't dangerous, so even if it doesn't achieve what you want it won;t have done any harm at sensible doses. But it is always a good idea to search the forum and the internet for info on anything new before buying anything or spending any money.

[Alternatively in reply to humanbean]

Thankyou humanbean, I understand. I’ll do some research. I appreciate you telling me about this.

[kaju20]

Hi, I found beef spleen, grass fed organic thr best option for me. I took the liver supplements which are high in vitamin A and started getting symptoms of vitamin A overdose. So I would just stay alert if you start feeling unwell or get strange symptoms just keep an eye on your vitamin A levels. Personally I have found much more effective these types of supplements but it's a must to buy better quality, new Zealand grass fed organic I have been told are better

[Alternatively in reply to kaju20]

Thanks for letting me know that kaju20, I wouldn’t have thought about the high vitamin A content, very good point! So could I ask what brand of beef spleen supplements you take please ?

[kaju20 in reply to Alternatively]

I use ancestral supplements, grassfed beef spleen. My mother in law had a very fierce disease HHT could never get her iron up despite iron infusions, prescribed iron etc. The specialists at the hospital asked what caused the improvement.. same thing for my friend who's iron dropped to anemia as she was going through aggressive chemotherapy... she told me a few months after I suggested trying these that her specialist asked what she'd been taking. They seemed to impress hospital specialists with their effectiveness. They are my go to everytime. Pricey but I'd rather spend on something I know will work. I haven't tried other brands, maybe other brands that are cheaper would. I just stuck with what I knew. I hope you find something that works. From the research I did this form of iron, food derived as such is processed much easier in the body and if I rememebr correctly because of the form or the way the body processes it you won't need to take them with vitamin C. It was a while ago I researched so you might want to check but that seems to be what I rememebr

[Alternatively in reply to kaju20]

Thankyou Kaju20 for the info.