What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer:
I would recommend that you continue Ferrograd C for total of 4-5 months.

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir,
I did review your concern.
Your ferritin levels are improving due to Ferrograd C which is a good sign of responsiveness.

I would recommend that you continue the medication for total of 4-5 months and then stop(So if you have been taking for say 2 months I would recommend you to stop after 3 months).

There are 2 reasons for that
1) Iron supplementation needs to continue even after replenishment of hemoglobin levels and ferritin levels to increase the amount of iron stores in your body.
2) Once we have stopped the course, we can then monitor your hemoglobin level and see if it is maintaining or falling again to check responsiveness.

As far as red meat is considered, we as doctors do not promote more of red meat due to its association with colon cancer. however you can eat other food rich in iron source like spinach,fish, raisins.
Also the best time for taking iron tablets is 30mins before breakfast with some orange juice or if you feel nauseating with this, then 1hour after meal with orange juice. Orange juice promotes absorption of iron just like how vitamin C does in Ferrograd C. In this way it minimally interferes with absorption of other minerals as well as it self.
Avoid taking oats, rye, milk, tea, soy proteins and calcium products with Iron supplements. The ideal gap between these and iron supplements should be 2-3 hours.
Another consideration is evaluation of cause of iron deficiency anemia in your case, since in a young male I would recommend a stool for occult blood test and malabsorption studies in case the hemoglobin levels do not maintain despite 5 months of iron therapy.

So all in all, I would recommend following-
1)Continue Iron tablets for total of 5 months and then stop and monitor hemoglobin and ferritin levels regularly.
2) Take the iron tablets as I have advised above, between meals or ideally 30 minutes to 1 hr before breakfast with some orange juice. Keep atleast 1 hr gap between iron supplements and milk products,soy,oats,rye.
3) consume iron rich food like fish, spinach and raisins other than red meat.You can have red meat occasionally.
4) IF the hemoglobin does not maintain and ferritin levels fall again after the iron therapy I would recommend you consult a gastroenterologist for occult bleeding from bowel and malabsorption studies as these are the most common causes of anemia apart from nutritional deficiency in young males.

I hope this helps
Let me know if you have more questions or concerns. Also provide me feedback of your health and condition.
Wish you all the best my friend.
Your ferritin is improving so you are doing great and so dont worry!
Sincerely,
Dr Parth Desai

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Brief Answer:
Hi it may decrease iron absorption but not a cause of anemia

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thank you for your reply query and question.
Coffee may inhibit iron absorption a tad bit, but the literature is controversial about it.

However, many people drink lots of coffee in a day and they do not get iron deficient, which is proof enough that it does not significantly affect the iron status of the body.
Malabsorption means when iron and other nutrients are not properly absorbed by intestine due to defects inherent in our body like celiac disease.
So I would recommend you take iron tablets with a 1 hr gap between it and coffee. How I recommend my patients is to take it immidately in morning as they get up and then get ready and have breakfast after an hour. However, some cannot tolerate it early in morning so then the best time is 2 hrs after lunch.

So All in all,
Coffee drinking should not cause significant iron absorption problems and you can continue you having it in mild to moderate amounts. I would recommend you to have a gap between coffee and iron tablets to ensure complete and maximum possible absorption of iron.

I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns. Also provide me feedback of your health and condition.
Wish you all the best my friend.
Sincerely,
Dr Parth Desai

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