Home testing for low Iron levels (anaemia)?

[Andrew_G]

Hi

Does anyone know whether there is such a thing as a home test kit for testing your Iron level at home?

I've been recommended to take an Iron Supplement but am reluctant to do so as Dr Weil (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA74999)states that for Men Iron is one of the few minerals we cannot eliminate, and accumulations in the body can rise to toxic levels. Iron is an oxidizing agent that can increase the risk of cancer and damage the heart and the arteries.

Instead I've increased by consumption of Iron-rich foods but I'm conscious that my levels may still be borderline or low.

Cheers

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Have you thought about donating blood.
They always test blood for iron levels before they allow you to donate so if there is a Blood donor session (http://www.blood.co.uk/) near where you live it would be a cheap, quick way of finding out if your iron level was good enough for Blood donation and you'd be doing something amazing.

blood donation and iron (http://www.blood.co.uk/pdfdocs/iron.pdf)

[Andrew_G]

Hi Ted

I'm already a long-standing (10+ years) blood donor and in fact it was during the last session my borderline level was detected.

I would like a means of testing regularly at home without waiting every three months for a blood donor session or the inconvenience of visiting my GP and waiting for results.

[Valley's girl]

What about going to your gp and asking them for an iron test.
At least you would know if you are anaemic.
Best wishes
ally

[myrnahaz]

You haven't mentioned who told you to take iron, so do as Valley's girl suggests and go to your doctor. Too much iron (the RDA isn't high) can be really, really bad for your health, and supplements shouldn't be taken unless your GP has recommended you do so. Anaemia isn't always caused by iron deficiency, so you should never self-diagnose.

[Andrew_G]

It was my GP that recommended I take the Iron Supplements after the Blood Service wrote to him re: my pre-donor reading.

[myrnahaz]

Sorry, I assumed you'd had advice from a sports trainer or something.
It's really difficult to absorb iron from foods, and it's also hard to eat enough iron-rich foods to meet the RDA. Some foods/drinks help you to absorb iron if taken at the same time as iron tablets or iron-rich foods - I think orange juice is one, but you'd have to research that.
Iron tablets are horrible things to take and cause upset stomachs, constipation etc, but you may have no option. Then again, maybe your dietary changes will be sufficient.

There are several changes in your appearence that indicate low iron - pale lips, pale gums and pale inner eyelids, plus ridged, brittle nails and thinning hair - you'll also be easily tired. Therefore, when your mucous membranes start pinking-up, you'll know that your iron is ok.

[Princess kate]

Hi yes myrnahaz is right (im a haematologist)
You should really have a ferritin, B12 & folate done via your GP to know the cause of the anaemia & if it is iron deficiency find out why & that the appropriate medication. The levels should then be checked again to ensure the meds are having an effect.
Orange juice does aid the absorption and iron can not be eliminated form the body so to take too much would not be good! I would definately reccomed a trip to the doctors. May be annoying but better than ending up in A&E if your Hb drops to a very low level & requiring a transfusion

[geminilady]

You haven't mentioned who told you to take iron, so do as Valley's girl suggests and go to your doctor. Too much iron (the RDA isn't high) can be really, really bad for your health, and supplements shouldn't be taken unless your GP has recommended you do so. Anaemia isn't always caused by iron deficiency, so you should never self-diagnose.

I always thought anaemia was iron deficiency but was told today i am amnenic yet my iron levels are ok? what is more confusing is he has given me a perscription for iron tablets?

[myrnahaz]

I forgot that folic acid helps the body absorb iron - I had to take it when I was pregnant, years ago.
Geminilady, I was like you, my iron levels were ok but my ferritin levels were low, and I was prescribed iron tablets (maybe princess kate can explain what ferritin is). They're horrible things and make you feel nauseous after a while.

[Organic12]

On the advice of my doctor I take an Iron supplement. (I'm not anaemic but my iron levels are towards the bottom end of the range used by the lab, so he wasn't able to prescribe.)

After trying various products I've settled on Spatone. It's iron rich water from Snowdonia and comes in sachets. It doesn't cause an upset tummy as some other products might for some people. I take one a day, in half a glass of fruit (not grape) juice when I get in from work. (If you're taking other medication then you need to check that iron won't interfere.)

I recently stocked up from Boots.com using their 3 for 2 offer and of course, collected my points. I ordered more than £25 to get it delievered free to my local Boots shop so I didn't have the hassle of going to the post office etc. I think Mothercare had it on at half price not so long ago but were out of stock by the time I realised.

The 28 day boxes aren't the lightest things in the world to carry so do think before you buy a load of them.

[Princess kate]

I forgot that folic acid helps the body absorb iron - I had to take it when I was pregnant, years ago.
Geminilady, I was like you, my iron levels were ok but my ferritin levels were low, and I was prescribed iron tablets (maybe princess kate can explain what ferritin is). They're horrible things and make you feel nauseous after a while.


Folic acid doesnt help your body absorb iron. That is for your levels of folate which a deficiancy of an cause macrocytic anaemia, iron deficiancy is microcytic anaema. Folate is important in pregnancy as a deficiency of it can lead to neural tube defects such as spnabifida.

Ferritin is how available iron is stored in the serum of your blood, if that is low it is likely you will start to use up your stored iron. I take iron levels, my red cell indices were never effected but my ferritin level was 5, normal range being 15-150. If you catch it before your red cells & Hb level is effected then you wont have a iron deficient blood picture even though your ferritin level may be very low.

I hope some of this makes sense!

[myrnahaz]

Thanks, PK - it makes perfect sense.