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What Is The Relationship Between Growth Hormone Deficiency And Low Ferritin Levels?
Hi there - What is the relationship between growth hormone deficiency and low ferritin levels (anemia) and/or iron absorption? I have been diagnosed with low ferritin. My ferritin level was 3 in a normal range of 10-290. Oral iron would not bring my ferritin higher than a 7. It was determined that I was not absorbing iron properly. Therefore, I had been receiving iron via iv 100mg once per week over 6 months and the most my ferritin level would maintain was at 40. If I missed a week or two, my ferritin level would drop back to 10-20. In December (8wks ago), my doctor had me receive 1000mg at one time, instead of 100mg per week, and the plan was to have me wait 8-10 weeks. As of now, I haven't been back in 8 weeks. Also, in December I was diagnosed with adult growth hormone deficiency. I started growth hormone injections in early January and my most recent ferritin level was 474 (drawn Monday 2/14). At this level of 474, it appears I can stop my iron iv weekly, or otherwise, since my ferritin level is way too high now. Has the addition of hgh through the injections, and therefore the increase of hgh, improved my ability to absorb and/or maintain my ferritin levels? And, if so, what is the connection? Thanks so much! Robin
Wed, 10 Jan 2018
Dear Robert,
It is highly likely you have a defect in hepsidin repression.
Hepsidin is synthesized by liver cells and determines how much iron is reabsorbed from the gut and released from iron storage sites in the body. Ferritin is iron binding storage protein. High hepsidin level decreases iron absorption and vise versa low level of hepsidin increases iron absorption in the gut. Hepsidin level in the body is regulated by iron: low iron repress (decrease) hepsidin synthesis which in turn increases iron absorption in the gut. If there is a defect in hepsidin repression by low iron level in the body the patient will have high levels of hepsidin which causes refractory iron deficiency anemia. Growth hormone administration decreases hepcidin concentrations and increases iron reabsorbtion from the gut (increase in ferritin concentration) and release iron from iron storage sites.
I hope I have answered your question. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you,
Malik Amonov MD
It is highly likely you have a defect in hepsidin repression.
Hepsidin is synthesized by liver cells and determines how much iron is reabsorbed from the gut and released from iron storage sites in the body. Ferritin is iron binding storage protein. High hepsidin level decreases iron absorption and vise versa low level of hepsidin increases iron absorption in the gut. Hepsidin level in the body is regulated by iron: low iron repress (decrease) hepsidin synthesis which in turn increases iron absorption in the gut. If there is a defect in hepsidin repression by low iron level in the body the patient will have high levels of hepsidin which causes refractory iron deficiency anemia. Growth hormone administration decreases hepcidin concentrations and increases iron reabsorbtion from the gut (increase in ferritin concentration) and release iron from iron storage sites.
I hope I have answered your question. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you,
Malik Amonov MD
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