Low iron saturation?
I just got part of my labs back today (I will post them all once I have everything) and I am a bit confused about my iron.
My iron is 51
Iron binding capacity, total is 374
Percent saturation is 13.6
Ferritin is 121
All my other numbers seem to be good
so why is my saturation which should be around 20%+ so low?
My iron is 51
Iron binding capacity, total is 374
Percent saturation is 13.6
Ferritin is 121
All my other numbers seem to be good
so why is my saturation which should be around 20%+ so low?
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way
- Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way
- Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
Ms. Cal Culator
on 12/21/10 6:44 am, edited 12/21/10 6:53 am - Tuvalu
on 12/21/10 6:44 am, edited 12/21/10 6:53 am - Tuvalu
from buzzle.com
Iron Saturation
Transferrin saturation is measured as a percentage. The transferrin-iron saturation percentage is calculated by dividing the level of serum iron by the total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and multiplying by 100. TIBC is the total amount of iron that can be bound and transported by transferrin, whereas, serum iron is the total amount of iron in the blood. When a person suffers from low iron levels, the level of transferrin in the blood increases. The normal range of serum iron lies between 60 to 170 μg/dl, whereas, reference range for TIBC is 240-450 μg/dl. As far as iron saturation is concerned, it is 15-50% for males and 12-45% for females. Serum iron, TIBC and ferritin saturation tests are usually performed together. If the test reveal low levels of serum iron and low iron saturation, it is indicative of an iron deficiency or anemia and abnormally high iron levels in blood and high iron saturation indicate hemochromatosis or iron poisoning.
100 (51 / 374) = 13.6363636
So the answer is, your saturation numbers merely show the relationship between the serum iron and TIBC numbers and because your serum iron is nearer the low end of normal and the TIBC is near the high end the percentage is low.
And, that MAY be normal for YOU...ask your doctor. Or it could mean that you need iron or more steaks and spinach...depending on how you do absorbing orally ingested iron.
In your situation, I'd want to know my pre-op or three month numbers and if I were trending down, I'd want to try oral iron and see how that works. Also if it were me, this time I'd notice that I was CRAVING steaks...and pay more attention to what my body was telling me before my ferritin got to 9 or 5 like it did. lol
ETA...Remember, at three months out, most anyone who had that much stomach carved out would show shortages of most nutrients...it takes a while to get caught up. My advice would be to not panic and to not let it go really low without getting professional assistance.
Iron Saturation
Transferrin saturation is measured as a percentage. The transferrin-iron saturation percentage is calculated by dividing the level of serum iron by the total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and multiplying by 100. TIBC is the total amount of iron that can be bound and transported by transferrin, whereas, serum iron is the total amount of iron in the blood. When a person suffers from low iron levels, the level of transferrin in the blood increases. The normal range of serum iron lies between 60 to 170 μg/dl, whereas, reference range for TIBC is 240-450 μg/dl. As far as iron saturation is concerned, it is 15-50% for males and 12-45% for females. Serum iron, TIBC and ferritin saturation tests are usually performed together. If the test reveal low levels of serum iron and low iron saturation, it is indicative of an iron deficiency or anemia and abnormally high iron levels in blood and high iron saturation indicate hemochromatosis or iron poisoning.
100 (51 / 374) = 13.6363636
So the answer is, your saturation numbers merely show the relationship between the serum iron and TIBC numbers and because your serum iron is nearer the low end of normal and the TIBC is near the high end the percentage is low.
And, that MAY be normal for YOU...ask your doctor. Or it could mean that you need iron or more steaks and spinach...depending on how you do absorbing orally ingested iron.
In your situation, I'd want to know my pre-op or three month numbers and if I were trending down, I'd want to try oral iron and see how that works. Also if it were me, this time I'd notice that I was CRAVING steaks...and pay more attention to what my body was telling me before my ferritin got to 9 or 5 like it did. lol
ETA...Remember, at three months out, most anyone who had that much stomach carved out would show shortages of most nutrients...it takes a while to get caught up. My advice would be to not panic and to not let it go really low without getting professional assistance.
docs.google.com/Doc
You might want to compare your lab results to VitaLady's suggested ranges.
:puppydog:
You might want to compare your lab results to VitaLady's suggested ranges.
:puppydog:
Just to add on to Sue's post--I notice a big uptick in craving dark chocolate when my iron levels start to tank. There is some iron in dark chocolate, so there's a physiological reason for it, I suppose.
My other tell-tale symptom is falling asleep at my desk in the mornings or around 3:30 in the afternoon. If you're feeling more tired than usual or showing other iron deficiency symptoms, definitely get checked out by your PCP or an endo.
My other tell-tale symptom is falling asleep at my desk in the mornings or around 3:30 in the afternoon. If you're feeling more tired than usual or showing other iron deficiency symptoms, definitely get checked out by your PCP or an endo.
Jenn
Type 1 diabetic, 26 years
With great power (the DS!) comes great responsibility.
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