Posted by River1924 on March 12, 2006, at 1:37:02
In reply to Re: Ferritin and faigue: FYI, posted by KarenRB53 on March 11, 2006, at 20:17:05
According to "The Iron Disorders Institute: Guide to Hemochromatosis", the normal range of ferritin in adult males is 25 to 300ng/mL. In females, the range is 25 to 200ng/mL. It is assumed a women should lose iron every month when she menstruates. Illness can make ferritin higher. The test can be inaccurate in this case. The body converts iron to ferritin temporarily during bacterial infection. Iron is lowered in the blood, in this case, and ferritin higher. Bacteria use iron as food and this process is the body's attempt to starve the bacteria. (***By the way, I started out at 1040 and now I am at 12.)
Therefore, another test needs to be done. In hemochromatosis, one needs to know one’s TSat% (Transferrin Iron Saturation Percentage.) Transferrin is a protein that buses iron around the body and keeps it from damaging cells through oxidation. Transferrin can only hold so much safely: otherwise iron atoms are unstable and can “fall off” and damage tissues. One needs two fasting percentages greater than 45%. Ideally, the number is between 25 and 35%. (***Mine began at 100% and now is 15%.)
Just for your info, one can have iron overload even if these test are normal. Normally not but the most common symptom is elevated liver enzymes and scans which show the liver loaded with iron (which encourages infections and destroys cells.)
Also, one can overcome the digestive regulation of iron if one smokes tobacco. The lungs will absorb iron in the smoke without discrimination.
Men (and women after menopause probably) who do not have hemochromatosis tend to have too much iron anyway. Iron fortified food and red meat have only been available in abundance in this century.
If the average man donates blood one time a year, his risk of heart attack decreases by 50%. Even if the men you love hate needles, blood donation might save their lives. Encourage it.
poster:River1924
thread:618685
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060310/msgs/619197.html