So confused. Iron levels, please help :)

[celestinep]

Hello

I've only just started to take care of my health after feeling exhausted for what feels like FOREVER!

I have some past and previous blood results, but I can't make heads nor tales of them. Of course, Doc is saying 'normal' (rolls eyes!)

13th Jan 2025

B12/Folate level

Serum vit b12 level 722 ng/L [144.0 - 915.0]

Serum folate level 6.7 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9]

Serum Ferritin level 46 ng/mL [11.0 - 306.8]

Serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D3 level 78.5 nmol/L; <25 nmol/L: vit D deficiency, requires replacement 25-50 nmol/L: vit D insufficiency, consider replacement

50-150 nmol/L adequate Vitamin D status

2nd May 2024

B12/Folate level

Serum vit b12 level 466 ng/L [144.0 - 915.0]

Serum folate level 18.4 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9]

Serum Ferritin level 40 ng/mL [11.0 - 306.8]

Serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D3 level 78.9 nmol/L; <25 nmol/L: vit D deficiency, requires replacement 25-50 nmol/L: vit D insufficiency, consider replacement

50-150 nmol/L adequate Vitamin D status

I tried taking ferrous sulphate for 8 months which just made me feel sick, so I stopped and I take 200mg of B12 and 1000mg (have just upped it to 2000mg the past week or so) of vit D a day. I have GI issues and have been reading the Iron Protocol guide, to get some ideas and what to purchase, when to take and how it interacts with other vits and meds.

Please may anybody advise or share some insights?

Many thanks in advance

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Do you also have a thyroid issue

Assuming yes, what dose levothyroxine and please add thyroid results and ranges

Loads of members have good results with Three Arrows heme iron

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

If taking any iron supplements stop 3-5 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

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

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

Great replies from @FallingInReverse

re ferritin and Three arrows

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great reply by @fallinginreverse

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferrodyn supplement

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good iron but low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Iron deficiency without anaemia

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary

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

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Serum vit b12 level 722 ng/L [144.0 - 915.0]

Serum folate level 6.7 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9]

your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level over 70), so just need a good vitamin B Complex.

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)

[celestinep in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks sp much. Thats really helpful.