Taking Iron Every Day – So Why Am I Still Low?
Since December 2024, I’ve been trying to normalize my blood levels. Back then, several values were out of range — vitamin B12, vitamin D, folate, and iron were all on the low end. So I got to work.
For iron, I started taking 20 mg of Gentle Iron by Solgar every day. A form that’s supposed to be easy on the gut. I’ve taken it consistently for over six months now.
At one point, after a conversation with my GP, I even tried doubling the dose to 2 x 20 mg per day. The idea was that my levels weren’t increasing fast enough. But that didn’t go well.
After three days, I started feeling strange. My legs felt extremely restless — more than usual. My head was foggy and overstimulated. I felt jittery, almost like I’d had too much caffeine, but without the energy boost. Just unease. So I went back to my usual 20 mg dose, figuring I’d rather go slower than feel that awful again.
Last Wednesday, I had new labs done to check in on my progress. Here’s what the results showed:
| Test Date | 18-06-2025 | 31-03-2025 | 25-11-2024 | 19-12-2023 | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transferrin (g/l) | 2.21 | 2.38 | 2.22 | — | 1.80 – 3.60 |
| Iron (μmol/l) | 13 | 22 | 27 | — | 14 – 28 |
| TIBC (μmol/l) | 55 | 60 | 56 | — | 45 – 81 |
| Saturation % | 23 | 38 | 49 | — | 15 – 45 |
| Ferritin (μg/l) | 74 | 66 | 77 | — | 30 – 400 |
| Vitamin B12 (pmol/l) | 472 | 320 | 299 | 227 | 138 – 652 |
| Folate (nmol/l) | 21.2 | 24.5 | 18.8 | 32.4 | >8.8 |
| Methylmalonic acid (nmol/l) | — | — | — | 233 | <350 |
What stands out right away is that my vitamin B12 is finally improving. That’s reassuring. But my iron — despite consistent supplementation — has dropped. Again. In November 2024, my iron was 27 μmol/L. Then 22 in March. Now it’s just 13 – below the normal range.
So what’s going on?
I’m not a doctor, but I have some theories. Either my body is:
- Losing iron somewhere,
- Struggling to absorb what I give it,
- Or burning through it faster than expected.
I also deal with digestive issues, like constipation and bloating. And lately, I’ve been experiencing some shortness of breath and feeling light-headed — especially when I tried that higher dose of iron. These symptoms make me wonder if something deeper is going on.
That’s why I’ve scheduled a new appointment with my GP for this week. I’m bringing these questions with me, as well as my full symptom log and supplement timeline.
Hopefully, we can figure out:
- Whether I have a functional iron deficiency, despite normal ferritin,
- If additional testing is needed (like CRP, hepcidin, or a coeliac screen),
- And what to do when my body doesn’t tolerate higher doses.
I’ve learned that more isn’t always better. Sometimes your body whispers — and sometimes it screams — when something isn’t right. And that’s worth listening to.
If you’ve had a similar experience with iron or supplements, I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment and let’s talk.