Adrenal/Thyroid FAQ's Ferritin & Iron Status

[Guest guest]

Is it possible to include correct testing protocols in the Faq's page?

http://faqhelp.webs.com/ironandferritin.htm

It is necessary to follow these protocols as otherwise Serum Iron results are

NOT accurate/valid. As TIBC, UIBC & Saturation all depend on accurate Serum Iron

these would also be invalid unless protocols were followed.

a) test early am fasting

NO meds or supps until AFTER blood taken (HC & Salt water OK if you need it)

c) NO Iron supps for minimum 5 days (some sources say 7 days)

d) some sources also say NO Vit C supps for minimum 5 days (some sources say 7

days) as well

e) NO high Iron foods or drinks for at least 3 days (5 days is even better)

Stress that Ferritin can be high due to Iron sequestration (the

body's defense response to inflammation, infection, injury). You CANNOT assess

whether this may be happening just by doing an Iron Panel. You need to test the

following AT THE SAME TIME as doing the Iron Panel

a) CBC with differential

ESR

c) Homocysteine

d) CRP

e) Fibrinogen

Note you should NOT take Iron or test when you KNOW you have an infection

(whether viral, fungal or bacterial). Should wait until AFTER you have recovered

before recommencing Iron supps & several weeks before testing Iron/Ferritin

again.

I do appreciate that Iron is important for Thyroid Hormone utilisation & much

more and hence it is important to test it as accurately as possible to assess

need & monitor supplementation.

Regards Lethal Lee

[Guest guest]

Further to my post below you may wish to add this link which explains the tests

& some of the protocols

http://www.irondisorders.org/tests-to-determine-iron-levels/

for example some excerpts...

A TS% ABOVE 45% (FASTING)

suggests iron loading, although elevated TS% could be a transient(passing)

situation.

A fasting TS% BELOW 20%

suggests iron deficiency or ANEMIA of INFLAMMATORY response also called anemia

of chronic disease.

Various foods and conditions can influence SERUM IRON.

You may wish to request a repeat fasting test with a stricter 72 HOUR PRE-TEST

AVOIDANCES of foods and substances:

red meat,

supplements,

alcohol,

vitamin C rich juices or

high sugar foods/beverages.

These items can increase iron absorption or alter results.

Serum Ferritin

is elevated in conditions of iron overload, liver disease, alcohol abuse,

nicotine product abuse (used to stop smoking) and in people who are sick with

illnesses, which causes inflammation. SF is naturally elevated in newborns and

infants. Serum ferritin is low in people who are iron deficient. Read about

elevated serum ferritin in infants and newborns or about Anemia of Chronic

Disease (ACD) also called anemia of inflammatory response.

Although ferritin does act as an " iron storage " facility, another key function

of ferritin is to contain iron withholding the metal from HARMFUL INVADERS. As

part of the body's natural defense system iron gets shuttled to ferritin. This

function is activated and stepped up when inflammation is present in the body.

Read more about The Iron Withholding Defense System and Anemia of Inflammatory

Response in the Iron Library Reading Room.

Lethal Lee

>

> Is it possible to include correct testing protocols in the Faq's page?

> http://faqhelp.webs.com/ironandferritin.htm

>

> It is necessary to follow these protocols as otherwise Serum Iron results are

NOT accurate/valid. As TIBC, UIBC & Saturation all depend on accurate Serum Iron

these would also be invalid unless protocols were followed.

>

> a) test early am fasting

> NO meds or supps until AFTER blood taken (HC & Salt water OK if you need

it)

> c) NO Iron supps for minimum 5 days (some sources say 7 days)

> d) some sources also say NO Vit C supps for minimum 5 days (some sources say 7

days) as well

> e) NO high Iron foods or drinks for at least 3 days (5 days is even better)

>

> Stress that Ferritin can be high due to Iron sequestration (the

> body's defense response to inflammation, infection, injury). You CANNOT assess

whether this may be happening just by doing an Iron Panel. You need to test the

following AT THE SAME TIME as doing the Iron Panel

>

> a) CBC with differential

> ESR

> c) Homocysteine

> d) CRP

> e) Fibrinogen

>

> Note you should NOT take Iron or test when you KNOW you have an infection

(whether viral, fungal or bacterial). Should wait until AFTER you have recovered

before recommencing Iron supps & several weeks before testing Iron/Ferritin

again.

>

> I do appreciate that Iron is important for Thyroid Hormone utilisation & much

more and hence it is important to test it as accurately as possible to assess

need & monitor supplementation.

>

> Regards Lethal Lee

>