6. Your thyroid is underactive. It’s well established that if you have hypothyroidism or hashimoto’s, you will struggle to increase your iron levels. There is a unique pathological dance between the two. reduced T3 levels in hypothyroidism down-regulates ‘iron-regulatory-protein’ which slows down the production of ferritin by the liver. So your ferritin levels may not budge on blood tests.
7. You have a deficiency of copper or Vitamin A. Copper is required for the transport of iron, and storing process in the liver. When copper levels are low, the body may absorb less iron. You can check your copper levels on a blood test to be certain. Vitamin A plays a role with increasing iron absorption and modulation of erythropoiesis.
And of course, before implementing any new vitamins or changes to your health, ensure you check in with your medical professional.
Sources:
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– Hallberg L, Ryttinger L, Sölvell L. Side-Effects of oral iron therapy. A double-blind study of different iron compounds in tablet form. Acta Med Scand Suppl 1966;459:3-10.
– Pineda O, Ashmead HD. Effectiveness of treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children with ferrous bis-glycinate chelate. Nutrition 2001;17:381-4.
– Bovell-Benjamin AC, Viteri FE, Allen LH. Iron absorption from ferrous bisglycinate and ferric trisglycinate in whole maize is regulated by iron status. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:1563-9.
– Duque X, Martinez H, Vilchis-Gil J, et al. Effect of supplementation with ferrous sulfate or iron bis-glycinate chelate on ferritin concentration in Mexican schoolchildren: a randomized controlled trial. Nutr J 2014;13:71.
– Bagna R, Spada E, Mazzone R, et al. Iron supplementation with iron sulfate versus iron bisglycinate chelate in preterm newborns. Curr Pediatr Rev 2018;14:123-9.
– Ferrari P, Nicolini A, Manca ML, et al. Treatment of mild non- chemotherapy-induced iron deficiency anemia in cancer patients: comparison between oral ferrous bisglycinate chelate and ferrous sulfate. Biomed Pharmacother 2012;66:414-8.
Pagani, A., Nai, A., Silvestri, L., & Camaschella, C. (2019). Hepcidin and anemia: a tight relationship. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 1294.
Ganz, T. (2006). Hepcidin and its role in regulating systemic iron metabolism. ASH Education Program Book, 2006(1), 29-35.
Moretti, D., Goede, J. S., Zeder, C., Jiskra, M., Chatzinakou, V., Tjalsma, H., … & Zimmermann, M. B. (2015). Oral iron supplements increase hepcidin and decrease iron absorption from daily or twice-daily doses in iron-depleted young women. Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 126(17), 1981-1989.
Melanie Nolan is a Naturopath + Nutritionist, and Founder of The Natal Naturopath. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
