Iron levels - what is good and what is not?

[Schenks]

Can anyone give me a pointer, please? My serum ferritin is 104 ug/L, range 10.00 - 290.00 ug/L. To me, ta range of 10 - 290 of anything is a bit weird - it's so wide. Can anyone advise, please? And if i need to up me levels a bit, how do I do it?

thanks,

Steph

[sporty333]

I believe the level we are looking for is 70 to 90. I guess by supplementing and eating iron rich foods :0)

Simon

[Schenks in reply to sporty333]

Thanks Simon - looks like my ferritin level's OK.

Steph

[sporty333 in reply to Schenks]

But you have to consider steph that different labs have different variables/scales.....

[Schenks in reply to sporty333]

Oh god . . .!

[helvella Administrator]

It is such a wide range because, to a very large extent, ferritin is simply a way in which iron can be safely stored. The amount of coal in the bunker doesn't matter very much unless you either have to scrape around the bottom to fill the scuttle - or it is overflowing!

Of course that is a gross over-simplification. Everything ends up having some effect within its reference range. And in this case it is towards the end that if you do not have a decent level, then getting it out of the store is not so effective and efficient.

But iron is a difficult substance. Too much is as bad as too little.

Ideally you would know some of your other iron-related test results. And there are several. Have a look here:

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

I'd guess that you are pretty much OK if your current intake has been reasonably steady for a long time.

Rod

[Schenks in reply to helvella]

That's such a brilliant explanation - thanks Rod, I get it. And I've checked the link - I can stop worrying about the iron at least!

steph