Re: Hair Loss/Good Ferritin Levels for Hypo

[Guest guest]

Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-70,

optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.

Iron Deficiency and Fatigue

http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/Iron%20Deficiency%20and%

20Fatigueaug06.pdf

" ...Dr. Friedman recommends iron treatment for everyone with a

ferritin less than 60 mg/dL. The goal of treatment is to raise

ferritin levels to a value between 70 and 90 mg/dL and is usually

achieved with oral iron treatment. Raising ferritin levels to this

range may be needed for patients with hypothyroidism to have an

optimal response to thyroid hormone treatment... "

Iron supplementation for unexplained fatigue in non-anaemic women:

double blind randomised placebo controlled trial

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=156009

" ...We found a significant response only in the patients with a

baseline serum ferritin concentration & #8804; 50 & #956;g/l. This suggests that

iron deficiency could be present even with a " normal " concentration

of serum ferritin. Indeed, the lower limit for serum ferritin

concentration is controversial: iron stores in the bone marrow may

serve as a better indicator of iron deficiency.19 One study compared

serum ferritin concentrations with iron stores in the bone marrow

and found that a serum ferritin concentration of 50 & #956;g/l was

associated with a 50% chance of iron deficiency occurring in the

bone marrow.20 The lower reference limits for serum ferritin and

haemoglobin concentrations have been considered too low for women... "

Anaemia: serum ferritin is the best test for diagnosing or excluding

iron deficiency anaemia.

http://www.eboncall.org/CATs/2185.htm

Interesting breakdown of ranges. You'll note that serum ferritin

between 45-100 still had cases of iron-deficient anemia. Now, I have

a quibble here, because the previous breakdowns had a range

differential of only 10 basis points (e.g. 15-25). This range is

huge. It would have been nice to see further breakdown. But even

discounting that, you still see iron-deficient anemia popping up.

Now, this is with, I assume, the standard definition of of IDA as

hemoglobin below a certain lab level (e.g. <12, IIRC). It does not

include those that are borderline to that, perhaps have excessively

low RBC counts, etc. It also is diagnosing one specific, severe iron

illness. It does not account for the fact that the fall of iron

stores normally passes through several stages: lowered iron stores,

iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia.

Too Little Iron in Blood of Men and Women Shedding Hair

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62062

" ...Cotsarelis and Trost say that what most doctors consider to be a

normal ferritin level is, in fact, too low. Ferritin levels of 10-15

ng/mL are within the " normal " range. Cotsarelis says a ferritin

level of at least 50 ng/mL is needed to help replenish hair. Trost

and Bergfeld shoot for 70 ng/mL...SOURCES: Trost, L. B. Journal of

the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2006; vol 54: pp 824-844.

Leonid Trost, MD... "

http://www.hairsite2.com/library/article194.htm

" ...Rushton suggests that serum ferritin concentrations of 40 ng/mL

or greater are required for maintaining good hair while 70ng/ml is

required for regrowth (Rushton DH. Management of hair loss in women.

Dermatol Clinic)... "

Iron deficiency leads to hair loss

" ...The double-blind, placebo-controlled SU.VI.MAX study, carried

out over eight years by researchers at French health and medical

institute Inserm, tested the impact of a daily dose of antioxidants

on 13000 healthy subjects, including 7886 women, and allowed

researchers to provide conclusive evidence that iron deficiency and

iron depletion are factors in hair loss...They were also able to

estimate the risk of severe hair loss caused by variations in the

levels of ferritin. For example, a woman with a ferritin level of

70µg/l (the average level) whose ferritin level falls to 40µg/l has

a 28 per cent greater risk of severe hair loss... "

<Note: Institute's name is " Institut Cochin de Génétique

Moléculaire/INSERM " . I could not locate an on-line abstract. Several

other websites reference the research. None had the abstract

referenced. Your doctor may be better able to locate it.>

Nutritional factors and hair loss.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=12190640 & dopt=Abstract

" ...Serum ferritin concentrations provide a good assessment of an

individual's iron status. Rushton et al. first published data

showing that serum ferritin concentrations were a factor in female

hair loss and, 10 years later, Kantor et al. confirmed this

association. What level of serum ferritin to employ in subjects with

increased hair shedding is yet to be definitively established but 70

micro g/L, with a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (< 10 mm/h),

is recommended... "

Guidelines for the Use of Serum Tests of Iron Stores

http://www.oaml.com/PDF/CLP001.pdf

" ...The extremely high prevalence of iron deficiency in menstruating

and pregnant females, adolescents and those on diets with poor iron

intake along with the high sensitivity and specificity of the serum

ferritin makes this the ideal diagnostic test. Levels will be

decreased before there is a decrease in the mean red cell volume

(MCV) or anemia. It has been suggested that the traditional cut off

between deficient and normal be reconsidered (usually between 12 and

20 microgram/L) and that the statistical likelihood of iron

deficiency does not decrease until values are > 40 microgram/L for

uncomplicated populations and > 70 microgram/L for cases with

inflammation or liver disease. (4)... "

Iron status and restless legs syndrome in the elderly

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2459/is_n3_v23/ai_15465834

" ...Serum ferritin levels were reduced in the RLS patients compared

with control subjects (median 33 [micro]g/1 vs. 59 [micro]g/1, p <

0.01... "

Diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia in the elderly.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=AbstractPlus & list_uids=2178409 & itool=icon

abstr & query_hl=10 & itool=pubmed_docsum

" ...These results indicate that values up to 45 micrograms/L

increase the likelihood of iron deficiency... "

Assessment of iron stores in anemic geriatric patients.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=AbstractPlus & list_uids=4056271 & itool=icon

abstr & query_hl=10 & itool=pubmed_docsum

" ...A transferrin saturation ratio of less than 11% and a serum

ferritin of less than 45 pg/L serve better than currently accepted

values to identify iron deficiency in this population... "

Detecting iron deficiency in anemic patients with concomitant

medical problems.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?

tool=pubmed & pubmedid=9686711

" ...a serum ferritin level < or =100 microg/L was 100% accurate in

separating iron-deficient from iron-sufficient patients... "

Accuracy of various iron parameters in the prediction of iron

deficiency in an acute care hospital.

http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/34VolNo7200508/V34N7p437.pdf

" ...CONCLUSION: A serum ferritin of <60 ng/mL or a percentage iron

saturation of <7% is highly predictive of iron deficiency among

inpatients in an acute care hospital... "

The role of serum ferritin in the diagnosis of iron deficiency

anaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

itool=abstractplus & db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=abstractplus & list_uids

=9627161

" ...These results indicate that serum ferritin level <50 microg L(-

1) depict a very high probability of iron deficiency anaemia (0.83-

0.99) irrespective of the patient's pre-test probability... "

Falsely low normal values for serum ferritin?

http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/27/5/768

http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/citation/27/5/768

(this one looks promising but I can't get the .pdf to display??? It

should - it was published in 1981. I can't confirm how helpful it

might be)

Note that some of these discuss ferritin levels in patients with

inflammatory diseases. ID raises ferritin levels, while actual

levels of iron available in the marrow may be very low. Thus, if you

are a hypothyroid patient that also has some form of inflammatory

disease, a range of 100, for example, may not accurately reflect the

iron available to you. It complicates the matter a bit

Red cell ferritin content: a re-evaluation of indices for iron

deficiency in the anaemia of rheumatoid arthritis

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?

artid=1443116 & blobtype=pdf

" ...These findings suggest that the indices for iron deficiency in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anaemia should include

peripheral blood microcytosis together with a plasma ferritin

concentration of less than 110 micrograms/l... "

As with everything, lab tests have to be taken in context with the

patient, their medical history/condition and their symptoms. As you

know, good treatment involves more than assessing health only by

numbers on piece of paper.

Check with Missy on the STTM Ferritin forum. She may have some more

articles too.

HTH,

> >>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

> Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:24 am (PST)

> Plus the fact that you

> want your ferritin in the 70-90 range for your thyroid medicine to

> work most effectively.>>

>

> Hi ,

> Can you give me any reference(s) on the above? Would like to send

it to my doc who is telling me ferritin level of 41 is okay! (This

is up from 17, but perhaps I need to keep going??)

>

> Thank you, Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:40 pm (PST)

Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-70,

optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.>>

Thanks , I've sent some of these over to my alt med doc. My

ferritin levels were 17 in May '06. I began supplementing with iron and

in September when the levels hit 44, my doc told me to stop

supplementing. Within 6 weeks, the levels had dropped to 41. Not sure

whether to supplement or not, hence your links are helpful and I'll see

how he responds.

I'm thinking there's a thyroid/adrenal connection b/c I eat plenty of red

meat, and don't drink all that much coffee, and no tea, which I know

interfere with absorption.

Thanks again,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:40 pm (PST)

Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-70,

optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.>>

Thanks , I've sent some of these over to my alt med doc. My

ferritin levels were 17 in May '06. I began supplementing with iron and

in September when the levels hit 44, my doc told me to stop

supplementing. Within 6 weeks, the levels had dropped to 41. Not sure

whether to supplement or not, hence your links are helpful and I'll see

how he responds.

I'm thinking there's a thyroid/adrenal connection b/c I eat plenty of red

meat, and don't drink all that much coffee, and no tea, which I know

interfere with absorption.

Thanks again,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:40 pm (PST)

Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-70,

optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.>>

Thanks , I've sent some of these over to my alt med doc. My

ferritin levels were 17 in May '06. I began supplementing with iron and

in September when the levels hit 44, my doc told me to stop

supplementing. Within 6 weeks, the levels had dropped to 41. Not sure

whether to supplement or not, hence your links are helpful and I'll see

how he responds.

I'm thinking there's a thyroid/adrenal connection b/c I eat plenty of red

meat, and don't drink all that much coffee, and no tea, which I know

interfere with absorption.

Thanks again,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

If it were me, I would start up with the supplementing again.

Especially as you see that you don't maintain what you have. It's

not a prescription & you ARE being monitored. You also have the

option of getting just a ferritin test from www.healthcheckusa.com,

if your doctor declines to do them in the future. It's only $25 (use

discount code 12345 & you'll get an extra 10% off too). You don't

want to be low, but you don't want to way overshoot the mark either.

> >>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

> Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:40 pm (PST)

> Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-

70, optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.>>

>

> Thanks , I've sent some of these over to my alt med doc. My

> ferritin levels were 17 in May '06. I began supplementing with

iron and in September when the levels hit 44, my doc told me to stop

> supplementing. Within 6 weeks, the levels had dropped to 41. Not

sure whether to supplement or not, hence your links are helpful and

I'll see how he responds.

>

> I'm thinking there's a thyroid/adrenal connection b/c I eat plenty

of red meat, and don't drink all that much coffee, and no tea, which

I know interfere with absorption.

>

> Thanks again,

> Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I sort of have started supplementing again, 100 mg twice a week. It

won't be a problem to get re-tested--but that's a good link, thanks.

I'll see what happens in another couple of months. My doc was happy

with 40 but I'm afraid it's just too low.

Dahia

> > >>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@ jtb14789

> > Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:40 pm (PST)

> > Hi Dalhia - here you go. Suggested minimal ferritin range of 50-

> 70, optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90.>>

> >

> > Thanks , I've sent some of these over to my alt med doc. My

> > ferritin levels were 17 in May '06. I began supplementing with

> iron and in September when the levels hit 44, my doc told me to stop

> > supplementing. Within 6 weeks, the levels had dropped to 41.

Not

> sure whether to supplement or not, hence your links are helpful and

> I'll see how he responds.

> >

> > I'm thinking there's a thyroid/adrenal connection b/c I eat

plenty

> of red meat, and don't drink all that much coffee, and no tea,

which

> I know interfere with absorption.

> >

> > Thanks again,

> > Dahlia

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dahlia - over on the Ferritin board at STTM, Missy usually suggests

150-200mg of elemental iron a day. Read the bottle to see how much of

the total is elemental (just the ferrous portion). Split the dose up

into 2 or 3 portions/day.

Even at those doses, it usually takes months to get your iron up.

Assuming that's all elemental, 100mg 2x/week is 28mg a day. Suggested

daily intake for maintenence is 18mg/day.

Are you taking your iron away from calcium, eggs & thyroid medicine?

Also, taking some vitamin C with the iron helps increase absorpiton.

>

> Hi ,

> I sort of have started supplementing again, 100 mg twice a week. It

won't be a problem to get re-tested--but that's a good link, thanks.

I'll see what happens in another couple of months. My doc was happy

with 40 but I'm afraid it's just too low.

>

> Dahia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

>Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:28 am (PST)

Hi ,

>Hi Dahlia - over on the Ferritin board at STTM, Missy usually suggests

150-200mg of elemental iron a day. Read the bottle to see how much of

the total is elemental (just the ferrous portion). Split the dose up

into 2 or 3 portions/day.

The stuff I take is Ferrochel Iron Chelate and it's 27 mg./capsule; I

take 4 capsules at once. I cannot split the dose as there aren't enough

hours in the day--I swallow my Armour plus I eat eggs every morning and I

take calcium at night. It just won't work! So it's once a day dosing.

Is that really bad?

>Even at those doses, it usually takes months to get your iron up.

Assuming that's all elemental, 100mg 2x/week is 28mg a day. Suggested

daily intake for maintenence is 18mg/day.

>Are you taking your iron away from calcium, eggs & thyroid medicine?

Also, taking some vitamin C with the iron helps increase absorpiton.

I didn't know about the eggs until recently, but yes, I do take the iron

with C, and I try to also eat red meat and some raisins or prunes too.

>

~Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

>Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:28 am (PST)

Hi ,

>Hi Dahlia - over on the Ferritin board at STTM, Missy usually suggests

150-200mg of elemental iron a day. Read the bottle to see how much of

the total is elemental (just the ferrous portion). Split the dose up

into 2 or 3 portions/day.

The stuff I take is Ferrochel Iron Chelate and it's 27 mg./capsule; I

take 4 capsules at once. I cannot split the dose as there aren't enough

hours in the day--I swallow my Armour plus I eat eggs every morning and I

take calcium at night. It just won't work! So it's once a day dosing.

Is that really bad?

>Even at those doses, it usually takes months to get your iron up.

Assuming that's all elemental, 100mg 2x/week is 28mg a day. Suggested

daily intake for maintenence is 18mg/day.

>Are you taking your iron away from calcium, eggs & thyroid medicine?

Also, taking some vitamin C with the iron helps increase absorpiton.

I didn't know about the eggs until recently, but yes, I do take the iron

with C, and I try to also eat red meat and some raisins or prunes too.

>

~Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

>Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:28 am (PST)

Hi ,

>Hi Dahlia - over on the Ferritin board at STTM, Missy usually suggests

150-200mg of elemental iron a day. Read the bottle to see how much of

the total is elemental (just the ferrous portion). Split the dose up

into 2 or 3 portions/day.

The stuff I take is Ferrochel Iron Chelate and it's 27 mg./capsule; I

take 4 capsules at once. I cannot split the dose as there aren't enough

hours in the day--I swallow my Armour plus I eat eggs every morning and I

take calcium at night. It just won't work! So it's once a day dosing.

Is that really bad?

>Even at those doses, it usually takes months to get your iron up.

Assuming that's all elemental, 100mg 2x/week is 28mg a day. Suggested

daily intake for maintenence is 18mg/day.

>Are you taking your iron away from calcium, eggs & thyroid medicine?

Also, taking some vitamin C with the iron helps increase absorpiton.

I didn't know about the eggs until recently, but yes, I do take the iron

with C, and I try to also eat red meat and some raisins or prunes too.

>

~Dahlia