Home testing for low Iron levels (anaemia)?

Princess_kate

myrnahaz wrote: »

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.