Transferrin Saturation Explained

To understand iron and its role in disease, one has to understand transferrin saturation.

[@ekpo10]

You explained a concept that no medical school textbook could help me with. Thank you, you are a very great teacher!

[@KiwikimNZ]

First time on this channel! A nurse of 25 years and I love to learn about the human body and revise on topics that Iam rusty on! Great channel, very easy to understand and such a calm and kind manner when teaching. Thank you very much! ❤

[@amjadnadeem8983]

It cant be simplified anymore, it was the best. Thanks for making it.

[@Legomed]

No problem

[@jonkurzawa5352]

Sir, this info is priceless. To confirm that it's possible to suffer from iron overload with normal ferritin.... my iron is 233 (high), UIBC 62 (low), iron saturation 79% (very high).... but ferritin is 86. I am one of the ones that suffers from all the symptoms of iron overload, with normal ferritin levels, due to this NTBI... its pure hell. I have been sitting on these numbers for 3 years because I was told by my naturopath that because I have low ferritin that I didn't have much to worry about. This NTBI is the missing link between my high iron saturation with low ferritin, but yet a laundry list of symptoms I have dealt with since childhood that mimic full blown hemochromatosis. Eating an iron rich meal as of late literally makes me feel as though ive been poisoned. I am in the process of seeking help from a specialist for the genetic testing to confirm (or rule out) hereditary hemochromatosis. Just really dissapointed that these numbers were dismissed as irrelevant 3 years ago when they were first discovered by someone who was in a position to help me.

[@andreabraquet4869]

Please let me know how it goes. My daughter is suffering similarly. What are your symptoms? She has high hemoglobin (15.4), high hemocrit (45.4), high platelets (477), high potassium (5.2), high calcium (10.6) and high iron saturation (46%), normal ferritin levels? FYI she is well hydrated.

[@Total_Body_Fitness_USA]

I've trained in functional medicine for some 29 years and I had the exact same problem you did. My iron was 220 and my UIBC was 68 and saturation at 76%, yet my ferritin was 66. Bottom line is this. It is iron overload - PERIOD! Donating blood is the fastest way to get rid of the iron. I have felt like crap for years and even though I knew my sat was high, I was taught that we MUST always look at ferritin to determine iron overload. I am one to say that I could burn all my textbooks and throw my training in the trash when it comes to this topic. It wasn't until last week I had a major episode where my heart rate would not go down. It was averaging 120 beats per minute. I end up in the ER and after blood work it showed that my iron sat was 76% and I was headed toward a thyroid storm. My TSH was negative 0 and my free T4 was 4.4. I have always had a very low TSH that has averaged 0.2 to 0.8 and again, I was taught that if your free T3 is low, then you are hypothyroid. I was taught to never just go by the TSH. Well, again, I screwed up OR at least the way I was taught was screwed up. If your TSH is low, then MOST likely you are hyperthyroid regardless of what your T3 shows. So, long story short - the iron overload was causing my thyroid to be in overdrive as we know it takes iron to convert T4 to T3. So, donate some blood and get your saturation down to around 30% and you will feel great. I noticed a HUGE difference in the way I felt after donation. In the hospital I had to take anti-thyroid meds and a beta blocker to get my HR down. I am 58 years of age and the doc said this could have killed me. It makes me sick to my stomach after being in medicine for as long as I have and I couldn't figure out my problem after me researching it and 2 other physicians not catching it as well. It took me almost dying before the problem was caught. Oh, turns out I have a genetic SNP for hemochromatosis. The SNP I have is H63D which causes mild hemochromatosis and it usually doesn't cause problems until later in life which it started to at around age 37. However, the last 10 years have been horrible. Best of luck to you!

[@t5l239]

​@totalbodyfitness6103 Thank you for sharing. My T4 is high, and now I know why. My UIBC is very low but everything else is in normal range.

[@carolwhite6626]

Thank you. This is a really useful video for those with Haemochromatosis trying to get consultants to consider Tsats rather than just Serum Ferritin when deciding whether maintenance venesection is necessary

[@peterbreingan3181]

exactly

[@Santy_4799]

I had so many doubts before the lecture. Thank you for solving them Professor!

[@Legomed]

Happy to help!

[@hannelieroodt1814]

I really love the way you teach and make everything so easy to understand. I have attended your webinar few years back through pelvic foundation and that has definitely help me learn new my midwifery practise. I had a patient that had hb of 11.2 ferritin 34 and transferrin saturation of 15 and transferrin 3.6 in 2nd teimester. Ive said to her to start on irontablets. She bought is a slow release iron that contains 24mg iron. I asked her 2 take 2 a day and explained how to take and the things to avoid. Then at 37 weeks repeated the hb and iron studies to see what happened. Hb still 11.2 saturation still 15 transferrin 3.6 and ferritin went up from 34 to 36. How would we get the hb and saturation to increase. Did I miss something?

[@benda-annevanniekerk6833]

Thank you very much, Prof. Greetings from a final year Stellies med student!

[@elbetop6205]

thanks for a very informative and well structured explanation Prof Louw!

[@Legomed]

Dear Elbe, thanks for your kind comments. I am glad to hear that it was useful to you. All the best with your medical studies!

[@stefanmitrovic973]

Winner of a video, been searching for "thyroid heterogeneous solid nodule" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Yannabarn Vanish Thyroid - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my buddy got cool success with it.

[@stardust8215]

Thank you so much. Explained beautifully. Everything I needed to know. I am very grateful for this video.

[@Legomed]

That's great to hear

[@sciencegeek0430]

Thank you, I have my last Nursing school test tomorrow , this is going to help me tremendously! Cheers

[@shadanmariam]

Thanks Sir. I have never understood it better.

[@australianfarmlife]

Thanks for the video, very well explained. Also love your humour!

[@Legomed]

Glad you liked it!

[@nsas955]

Thank you so much for this extraordinary lecture but one needs to re-read and listen to it several times to assimilate all these generous informations given . Besides i wonder what is more significant in prescribing anaemis TSAT or Ferritin, and what is the significance of ferritin and TSAT in the prognosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases mainly HEART FAILURE.

[@yousifal-ali2394]

WOW. You are a fantastic teacher. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@sigmabond1289]

very informative vid...thnx a lot and keep up d good work...looking forward for more vids

[@indersuman2043]

Thank you for explaining in such simple manner

[@Legomed]

My pleasure

[@samsaba8626]

An awesome teacher

[@beyzaylmz]

Thank you very very much for very informative explanation.Best regards..

[@robdave1974]

Well explained, thank you.

[@tonygross7575]

Fantastic!

[@omarkhan82]

Very nice explanation, you are very good.

[@anahitasharma3283]

Beautiful work, thank you.

[@il3mendo]

Would celiac disease, refractory type, could change this process ?

[@qbb01]

Great video!!!

[@jennaj655]

Nicely explained!

[@King-rs1ru]

Wow! I got it so good, thanks a lot.

[@jd1iraq]

Marvelous, thank you indeed..

[@elisabyler3421]

What does it mean if one's ferritin level is low but iron saturation is high?

[@reneelynnn]

Great explanation thank you!

[@Legomed]

You're welcome!

[@peterbreingan3181]

brilliant

[@moffattF]

what if the observed level of iron in the blood is below the limit of detection of the iron quantification assay?

[@jonik1556]

I'll watch the other videos to fully understand. (Need to see if my elevated SI and Sat% is due to elevated testosterone lab results [Dr prescribed waaay too much T] or if my hetero C282Y is the cause; ferritin 112, so not crazy high...though high levels even after two blood donations.) ???

[@Ebbbb131]

I have very high transferrin saturation and no hemochromatosis (just had the genetic results). My doctor wants me to do more tests in a couple of months (just donated blood). I’m looking online what else can cause this and I’m getting scared.

[@Hi-ty3hr]

Thank you. My son has 3.5% TSAT and his iron is 11.2. He is like this since he is young. I wonder how to improve it as he is always have iron supplements but didn't help to increase to much. When he is in iron supplement, then border and if he will not have supplements, it goes down. Thanks

[@Legomed]

Dear Ayoub, I am unfortunately not able to give medical advice on KZbin. I can only do general education. I suggest that you contact your doctor to have a look at this. Kind regards Vernon

[@1aliveandwell]

Have read iron labs for slender people might be good to include transferrin w trans sat.

[@elnazsa1799]

very well explained, thank you

[@elvisedimo5694]

So if when transferrin saturation of 22% and Ferritin of 303. What does that mean?

[@gianementor9860]

made my day... Thank you

[@roythomasful]

Excellent!

[@basmamahmoud4162]

Many many thanxs

[@parthpanda3010]

I love this video

[@rowwsun]

Sir,as u said :in IDA the liver produces transferring which further decreases transferrin saturation..but u didn't mention whether it is increased or decreased in low serum iron states such as ACD? I understood all the other concepts but this one is really bugging me.Hope u can put some light on this question.Thank You

[@Legomed]

Dear Row, thank you for the interesting question. In anemia of chronic disease, the serum transferrin is low, but the serum iron is very low as well, so you still have a low transferrin saturation. Transferrin is sometimes called a negative acute phase protein, as it decreases in inflammatory states. I hope that helps.

[@LEW_Aleha]

Vernon Louw MedEd sir a decrease in transferrin wud cause the the transferrin saturation to be increased...nd not decreased...got more confusing..ill rather stick to the explanation in the video..thank u

[@LEW_Aleha]

VERMA alex just as i posted it came it came into my mind that transferrin decreases in actue phase response..ok ANEMIA of CHRONIC disease is not an acute response hence the transferrin levels wud not decrease nd thus that wud not increase the transferrin saturation, nd the decrease in trans. saturation is purely due to decrease in serum iron stores.

[@aussiechiro]

I took 200mg zinc per day for 18 years. Ended up with copper deficiency and anemia and tendonitis and lots more. I have replaced copper. 12yrs of forearm tendinitis is gone but I am stuck with, normal S. iron, Ferriti 120. TSAT 30% but high Transferrin(80), I have persistent borderline to low Hemoglobin and hematocrit. I am an endurance athlete so it's not fun. Anybody got any ideas on how to get my haemoglobin up? I have been 5aking 100mg elemental iron most days and iron studies all got better but transferrin actually increased from 68 to 80. Anyone have a possible explaination?

[@Masspeace]

Sir what are you’re symptoms and do you have a white coating on tongue

[@d.victoriyawright7172]

Thank you for this 😊

[@samianadir1356]

thank you, sir.

[@Legomed]

Most welcome!

[@moffattF]

Does bleeding change the ratio of iron to transferrin? If not how can it decrease the transferrin saturation?

[@stargazor4753]

awesome!!

[@tomcruise9317]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Shiraz354]

D

[@tomc5435]

my bus's are only 19% full.