Can someone explain Iron, Ferritin levels?

Ferritin is a protein that binds and stores iron in the body. The serum ferritin level is used by physicians to estimate the amount of iron stored in the body. For each microgram/liter of serum ferritin measured it is estimated that the body is storing 10mg of iron. The normal

values of serum ferritin depend on both sex and age.

male: 12 to 300 ng/ml

female: 12 to 150 ng/ml

Note: ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter

The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely a patient is iron deficient.

Greater-than-normal levels may indicate:

Note: Any inflammatory disorder can raise the ferritin level.

alcoholic liver disease

hemochromatosis

hemolytic anemia

Hodgkin?s lymphoma

megaloblastic anemia

Lower-than-normal levels may indicate:

chronic gastrointestinal bleeding

heavy menstrual bleeding

iron deficiency anemia

Each day we absorb about 1-4mg of iron from our diet to replenish the iron that is lost from our bodies. The average US diet contains between 10 and 20mg of which 5-10% is absorbed which is enough to cover our iron losses.

-Clay

Ummm 12 would actually be deathly low for a ferritin level. The lowest end of normal is 22, and most people are well over that. You're right about what it does though. If your level is near 22, you might want to think about taking a supplement.

As a collegiate coach, I regularly see top women runners with ferritin levels under 20 (some men,too) and have had more than a few in the 7-9 range, which I'm told is, statistically, no different from having fully depleted iron stores.

Just hold up a second,

To clarif, is there more than one way to measure (i.e number output) iron(hemacrit) or ferritin levels. It seems that there are different sets of numbers being put out.

I do remember my doctor saying something about how I was at 14 and that that was fine, after I had raised it to there. Then, someone else was using a set around the 30's or so.

Any help here?

12 certainly isn't normal for a male. It starts at twenty something.

The ranges are just that ranges. If you are a distance runner and are any where in the 20s, I'd be concerned. My brother got tested when he first got to flagstaff and was about 31 or 28 and Dave Martin told him to get on liquid iron immediately as that was borderline as it stood and would likely drop due to the atltitude.

When i was anemic, I came out at like the lowest possible normal number - 22?? The guy at the high atltitude center said, "No wonder you are running like *****, you are anemic."

I'd make sure you are above 30 and hopefully in the 50s or 60s.

The ranges I posted are not specifically for runners, and 12 might be too low for most normal males. However, it differs greatly from individual to individual.

I agree that for runners (and certainly for altitude runners) 30+ is recommended.

-Clay

In 13 years of consistently testing athletes up to 3 or 4 times a year, here is what I've learned:

1 - Do not request an iron test. Request a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a serum ferratin test as Clay detailed.

2 - The ranges provided by the lab are ludicrous and meaningless. As an elite athlete consult these ranges:

Men -

Under 30, big trouble. Start supplementing twice a day (liquid iron is the best = 65mg elemental iron, mixed into OJ and/or taken with VC on an empty stomach - do not combine with a multi-vitamin or any foods containing Calcium)

Under 40, low. Start supplementing once a day.

Women -

Under 20, big trouble. See men in big trouble above.

Under 30, low. Start supplementing once a day.

(I have only had two women in 13 years of testing that have been above 30)

3 - Reasons for loss of iron / RBCs:

a - running (RBCs are crushed in the small capillaries of your feet)

b - menstruation, if you are son inclined

c - the ingestion of ANY anti-inflammatory. They always cause some bleeding in the stomach

d - change of diet, training levels, or lifestyles i.e. going to and training in college

e - extreme heat and humidity - lost through volumnous sweat

4 - I am adamant that every athlete gets tested right up front and then again after the year and workload have been established. Why this is not a standard part of a collegiate/HS physical is beyond me.

Unfortunatly, a lot of schools simply won't pay for athletes to get tested regularly. At the college

level, many of the trainers and doctors only want to test when they suspect a problem. Unfortunately,

if you wait to test until you think there's a problem, usually it is too late since it may take the athlete

weeks or months to start feeling better.

is it cool to take ferris sulfate in pill form...ferris sulfate elixair is really hard to find...and if it is ok to supplement iron in pill form do you need to take anything with it? thanx

Sue,

I agree with you schools are unwilling to pay for this expensive, but vital test.

Sue,

I agree with you schools are unwilling to pay for this expensive, but vital test.

At every school I have been at and with the elites I've coached, I've done the following:

1 - Asked the kids to get the test before they come back on their own insurance. "The coach requires a CBC and serum ferratin before participation."

2 - For those who don't or can't, I work a deal with a lab. I pay a phlebotomist $20 for an hour of blood drawing (the hospital's biggest expense) and pay a discount for the CBC or serum ferratin. There is a doctor in CA that has deals with labs nationwide. He "requests" the test you request and pay for. He gives advice over the phone on the results and gets paid from the lab. Your cost - much lower.

3 - Plead the case with administration. EVERY girl, with the exception of two, I've tested in 13 years was low in serum ferratin. You as a knowledgeable learned coach know this and are, by liability laws, responsible for saying this. If not, you and University U should be held liable.

be held liable.

As for the form of supplementation, I think liquid is best, but we can't find it here in ND. So we go pill (any equal to 65mg elemental iron). But we take with OJ and/or VC (and NO calcium... that means no milk, cheese, bread or anything!)

Pill form:

Trinsicon capsules can be taken. They contain 110 mg of iron, 15 mcg of vitamin B12, 75 mg of vitamin C and .5 mg Folic Acid and other factors of vitamin B com[plex present in the liver-stomach concentration to assist with absorption.

This way, one is less apt to worry about having to take it with orange juice, etc.

Someone mentioned on this thread that the average diet supplies sufficient amounts of iron, and that might be true, but caffeine, refined sugars, medications, b-c pills, dairy products all have the ability to interfere with iron absorption, not too mention all the other variables including menses for females. Considering all of those factors, it is fairly easy to see why women, and also male runners get depleted.