My ferritin level has been around the 500 mark for 6 months (that I know of). My doctor doesn't seem concerned and didn't even tell me to come back for monitoring. Hemochromatosis has been ruled out. Should I be concerned? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Linda

I would be, high iron levels (and high copper levels) is linked to heart disease.

You should be able to donate blood to bring it down.

Thanks Nancy.

second on the donating. it's very quick and effective.

eta> oh how interesting i see your personals say that you are a cancer survivor. was it recent? did you receive lots of blood transfusions? that would of course ramp up your iron load in a hurry.

my friend has hemachromotosis - the treatment he gets every month is a phlebotomy - they just draw a whole lot of his blood! So yes I agree that donating would be a good way to go.

I have been cancer free for 16 years so it is not a factor with the high ferritin. My iron reads normal but my ferritin is high so I am wondering if donating would help? I definitely will try donating the next time I am in the city, there is no place to do it where I live. Thanks for your input I do appreciate it.

i also have a high ferritin level, but can't donate blood because my hemoglobin, hematocrit is low..

i hear that high ferritin levels can be due to acute malnutrition; has anyone noticed high levels after starting atkins induction because of the extreme diet change of no carbs?

I'm having trouble connecting a diet of fresh meat, vegetables and healthy fats with acute malnutrition.

Other reasons:

High exogenous iron intake: Cooking in cast iron, especially something acidic.

Perhaps eating too much beef, or red meat, or other food with high iron content. Maybe some people are super-absorbers.

Iron in multivitamins? (You shouldn't take multis with iron -- no one should unless they have a good reason for it.)

Other causes?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093720/

High ferritin with normal iron. Possible causes:

Obesity, inflammation, and daily alcohol consumption.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093720/