redsun
Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2018
- Messages
- 3,013
You need larger than normal doses of iron for a longer period of time to actually fix iron deficiency. It is pointless to be so resistant to taking iron you simply waste time when you likely would have improved your health complaints if your took iron from the start. Iron deficiency will compromise ATP production which will contribute to fatigue and cognitive dysfunction and lower hemoglobin levels which will affect oxygenation of your tissues.Following on from this I just met with the Doc to review my three month follow up blood results.
10 Jan, 2023 results are in the first row under each heading and 29 Sep, 2022 results are in the second row under each heading.
Iron - Ideal Range = 10 to 30 umol/L
15
13
Transferrin - Ideal Range = 2.10 to 3.80 g/L
2.74
2.87
Saturation - Ideal Range = 15 to 50%
22%
19%
Ferritin - Ideal Range = 30 to 500
14
10
Lab comment - 'Iron studies are consistent with iron deficiency.'
In September the Doc wanted me to take iron supplements, however I declined and said I would increase my intake of molasses and beetroot
There has been a very minor uptick in my ferritin, and iron level. After reading through a lot of iron threads it does seem my saturation is low.
I do have days where I feel quite flat, unmotivated and don't seem to achieve a great deal and on these days I am aware I yawn and sigh a lot too. Sleep has not been great either.
I am thinking of taking a liquid iron supplement called spatone along with vitamin C. (I don't supplement vitamin C, however I do eat freshly squeezed orange juice quite regularly.)
FWIW, the Doc is keen for me to supplement iron and re-test in 3 months. He is of the view I am not absorbing iron.
All comments welcome - thank you...
Yes, you may deal with acute gut symptoms, but iron bisglycinate makes that minimal. Heme iron is way too slow as absorption is saturable. You can only absorb approximately 3mg or so from a 11mg heme polypeptide supplement at a time. This is why nonheme iron is preferred. Your doctor is probably right you may not absorb iron as well. Either too many absorption inhibitors in your diet, or old age which leads to generally reduced absorption of minerals like iron.
By the way at your age its really not healthy to give blood unless you have confirmed iron overload. Theres already a general slowing of the system at that age. When you reduce your oxygen carrying capacity through donation consistently at this age its overall going to hit you harder then someone younger. Hemoglobin levels that are barely sufficient are not optimal for anyone, especially elderly. They should be at least middle range or a little higher.