Ferritin in Serum

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies according to the WHO. In both the developed and developing countries.

77.5% of young females are considered iron deficient when using a 50-μg/L cutoff

Adult vegetarians have significantly lower serum ferritin levels (-29.71 µg/L) than their non-vegetarian controls. (meta analysis of 27 cross-sectional studies)

GI diseases, such as celiac disease, IBD, H. pylori, atrophic or autoimmune gastritis, Crohn's disease...

Tea consumption with a meal inhibits iron absorption by 37%. Waiting one hour after the meal reduces this inhibition to only 18%.

Coffee inhibits iron absorption from a supplement by 54%.

Calcium supplementation (1200 mg/day) significantly reduces daily non-heme iron absorption from 15.8% to 4.7%.

Heavy menstrual bleeding, blood donations, accidents, or surgery.

Proton Pump Inhibitors, Antacids and H2-Receptor Antagonists, Aspirin and Other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Certain Antimicrobials like tetracycline and ciprofloxacin ...

Serum ferritin levels appear to increase when even subclinical hypothyroidism is treated. However, a combination of levothyroxine and iron salts is more effective than using either one alone.

Up to 60% of patients with colon cancer have iron deficiency at diagnosis, probably due to chronic blood loss. Peter Attia says: "In fact, if a person is 50 years of age or older and they have low ferritin, they have colon cancer until proven otherwise"

Athletes such as marathoners with high training volumes would be particularly at high risk.

Both intravenous and oral iron supplementation have improved fatigue in iron-deficient, non-anemic women of childbearing age.,

Having a serum ferritin level <50 ng/ml caused a 6.5-fold increased risk for fibromyalgia syndrome.

In a meta-analysis of 36 observational studies, the average ferritin levels in patients with hair loss were 20.65 ng/dL lower than those in controls (childbearing age women). The meta-analysis concludes "Women with hair loss can benefit from higher ferritin levels."

In a smaller study involving 210 patients with hair loss and 210 healthy controls, females with hair loss had an average ferritin level of 49.27 µg/L, while healthy women had an average of 77.89 µg/L. Additionally, 22.7% of males with hair loss had a serum ferritin level lower than 70 µg/L, compared to healthy males, where non of them had ferritin levels below 70 µg/L.

In a smaller randomized controlled trial, iron supplementation improved hair density by 16% over six months, nearly double the improvement seen in the 2% Minoxidil group.

Meta-analysis: For patients with RLS who are iron deficient, iron supplements can not only relieve their fundamental RLS symptoms but also lower the risk of RLS augmentation.

Mayo clinic: All RLS patients with serum ferritin concentration of 75 mg/L or less and transferrin saturation below 45% should receive a trial of oral iron therapy.

Calculate your Iron Stores and personalized supplementation plan.

Read the American Society of Hematology guideline for Management of iron deficiency

Consider the "gentle iron" supplement. Compared with other iron supplements, supplementation with ferrous bisglycinate for 4-20 weeks resulted in higher hemoglobin concentrations and fewer reported GI adverse events.

Adding 500 mg of vitamin C doubles the iron absorption from FeAC (15% vs 34%) and is dose dependent. Vitamin C has to be taken at the same time as the iron supplement.,

Liquid iron might not be the best first option, as it can stain the teeth.

Lab check ferritin at least twice a year, since high values are dangerous.

"Slow-release" or "enteric-coated" Iron supplements are ineffective. Iron absorption primarily occurs in the duodenum, meaning there is only a limited window for efficient uptake.