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    Ferritin dropped from 170 ng/mL to 40 in 3 months?

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    • VehmicJurymanV
      VehmicJuryman
      last edited by

      In July I got extremely sick from eating McDonald's burgers with no buns, just the cheese and beef patties. I thought it must be a reaction to the iron in the beef and researched iron overload. I got a ferritin test which showed 170 ng/mL. I thought iron overload explained everything including my bad reaction to red meat and iron fortified bread, being underweight and skinny, my fatigue, my SIBO and acne, my tinnitus etc.

      I donated blood once and regularly took aspirin for 3 months. Yesterday I got a ferritin test that showed 40 ng/mL. Problem is I don't really feel much better. Marginally maybe. I have less acne and slightly more energy. I still think I have SIBO because I woke up burping after eating white rice a few days ago. I also didn't even think dropping my ferritin that quickly was possible, not sure if the aspirinmaxxing is responsible. What should I do now?

      yerragY 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • yerragY
        yerrag @VehmicJuryman
        last edited by

        @VehmicJuryman

        Rather than think and respond which I find hard to put together briefly and concisely, I let Delphi AI answer your question. It usually covers more than I do, and I usually agree with its initial answer, though follow-up questions are needed to form a more contextual-based approach.

        The answer-

        Your experience with McDonald’s beef and subsequent focus on iron overload is understandable, but I think the situation may be more complex than just ferritin levels. While ferritin at 170 ng/mL is on the higher side, it’s not necessarily indicative of iron overload unless paired with other markers like transferrin saturation or serum iron. The drop to 40 ng/mL after blood donation and aspirin use is significant, but it’s worth noting that ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, meaning it can fluctuate with inflammation or stress. Aspirin’s anti-inflammatory effects and blood donation likely contributed to the decrease, but the rapid change suggests there may be underlying factors at play, such as systemic inflammation or metabolic inefficiency.

        Your marginal improvement—less acne and slightly more energy—suggests that reducing iron may have alleviated some oxidative stress, but it’s clear that other issues remain unresolved. The persistent fatigue, SIBO-like symptoms, and tinnitus point to deeper metabolic imbalances, potentially involving thyroid function, gut health, and systemic energy production.

        Here’s what I would suggest:

        Evaluate Thyroid Function: Many of your symptoms—fatigue, underweight, poor digestion, and even acne—are consistent with hypothyroidism. Low thyroid function impairs cellular respiration, leading to inefficient energy production and systemic stress. Check your waking body temperature and pulse rate as simple indicators of thyroid function. A morning temperature below 97.8°F or a pulse below 75 bpm could suggest hypothyroidism. Blood tests like TSH, free T3, and free T4 can provide additional insights, but symptoms and basal indicators are often more reliable [1][2][4].

        Address Gut Health: Waking up burping after eating white rice suggests bacterial overgrowth or fermentation in the gut. SIBO often arises from slowed intestinal motility, which can be linked to low thyroid function. Supporting digestion with easily digestible foods, adequate salt, and possibly small amounts of activated charcoal or cascara sagrada could help reduce bacterial overgrowth. Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods like raw vegetables, legumes, and excessive starches may also reduce gut irritation [1][4].

        Optimize Protein and Nutrient Intake: High cysteine and tryptophan in muscle meats can suppress thyroid function and contribute to metabolic inefficiency. Favoring proteins like milk, cheese, gelatin, and eggs can provide more thyroid-supportive amino acids while reducing the burden of inflammatory amino acids [2]. Ensure adequate intake of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), as well as magnesium, sodium, and potassium, to support cellular energy production.

        Consider Aspirin’s Role: Aspirin can reduce inflammation and improve mitochondrial respiration by lowering prostaglandins and free fatty acids. However, long-term use can deplete vitamin K and irritate the gut lining, so it’s important to balance its benefits with potential risks. If you continue using aspirin, ensure adequate vitamin K2 intake through foods like aged cheese or supplements to prevent bleeding issues [3][4].

        Iron and Oxidative Stress: While reducing ferritin has likely lowered some oxidative stress, it’s important to avoid excessive iron restriction, as iron is still essential for oxygen transport and energy production. Focus on minimizing polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) in your diet, as they interact with iron to produce harmful lipid peroxides. Saturated fats like coconut oil and butter are more stable and protective against oxidative damage [8].

        Monitor Progress: Track your symptoms, body temperature, and pulse rate daily to assess how your metabolism responds to dietary and lifestyle changes. Improvement in these markers often correlates with better energy, digestion, and overall health.

        Your situation highlights the interconnectedness of metabolism, digestion, and systemic health. While lowering ferritin may have been a step in the right direction, addressing thyroid function, gut health, and overall energy production will likely yield more substantial improvements. Let me know if you’d like to explore any of these areas further.

        Temporal thinking is the faculty that’s
        engaged by an enriched environment, but it’s
        wrong to call it “thinking,” because it’s simply
        the way organisms exist... - Ray Peat Nov 2017 Newsletter

        LucHL 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • LucHL
          LucH @yerrag
          last edited by

          @yerrag said in Ferritin dropped from 170 ng/mL to 40 in 3 months?:

          Address Gut Health: Waking up burping after eating white rice suggests bacterial overgrowth or fermentation in the gut. SIBO often arises from slowed intestinal motility, which can be linked to low thyroid function.

          Well analyzed.
          Begin with sibo. Describe more symptoms in relation with the intestinal tractus and how long you suffer from. Otherwise you won't tolerate any appropriate food or supplement.
          Afterwards I could give a link to help.

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