Vitamins

[Le1890]

Hi can anyone tell me the 'normal' ranges for ferritin, b12 and folate? Please?

I've just had my results back as ferritin 28, b12 200 and folate 2.8

This has been going on for years since 2011. Celiac test normal.

Thanks!x

Anyone??xx

I just Googled all that and the first 2 are within normal range. Folate a bit harder to understand as split into 2 (like cholesterol) ... looks like you may be slightly deficient there. I'm not qualified so please check this out yourself or with a pharmacist or gp if you are worried.

Ferritin is between 15-290. You are in the normal range but not optimal. I am on iton medication as my ferritin is low normal (just above 20). Gp wants it to go up to 50-70 at least.

Ranges differ from lab to lab depending on the assay equipment used, but going by a rule of thumb, ferritin needs to be 70 or mid-range, whichever is the higher, to avoid fatigue and hair loss. B12 needs to be above 500 to avoid neurological symptoms and folate needs to be in the top 25% of its range.

A quick call to the lab that carried out the tests will tell you what the reference ranges are.

I would imagine that you are feeling very unwell and I would venture that after five years, it is time your GP referred you to someone who can investigate why all these levels are so low.

Your ferritin is within normal but low. At 58 I was suffering hair loss and am on supplements to get it above 100. Your folate is very low. Doctors always seem more concerned about B12 than folate but a low folate can cause horrible symptoms - memory loss, confusion, irritability, fatigue, breathlessness etc. The symptoms of folate deficiency are IMO badly neglected in this country.

Ranges in my area
Ferritin 11-307 ng/ml
B12 >160ng/L deficiency excluded (not a range as such)
Folate 3.2-25.9 ug/L

what's your vitamin D like, have you had that tested?

I got my levels up in those 3 up really well using a supplement called hema plex, obviously there are other things available.

Just because you have "failed" a coeliac blood test doesn't mean you haven't got it you know, I am waiting for appointment with a gastro as despite best efforts have struggled to raise ferritin up and my vit D needs a lot of supplementing too. I have realised finally I have lactose intolerance as well which would explain some of the poor absorption even though I have eaten gluten free for 18 months. You will probably have to push push push to get anything done as they will keep telling you your results are in the normal range.