Iron: an underrated factor in aging

Barnabas · 2024-06-06T15:56:38.186Z

I enjoy it quite a bit.

adssx · 2024-06-08T09:15:48.720Z

Has anyone looked at taurine to improve iron metabolism? @Joseph_Lavelle?

WebMD mentions “Anemia. Taurine supplements help your body use iron better, making them effective for iron deficiency and anemia.”

But I could only find a few low-quality papers:

Taurine Enhances Iron-Related Proteins and Reduces Lipid Peroxidation in Differentiated C2C12 Myotubes 2020

Significant increases in the heme protein myoglobin and the iron storage protein ferritin were observed in response to taurine treatment.

Taurine supplementation reduces oxidative stress and protects the liver in an iron-overload murine model 2014

Taurine Supplementation Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Cardiovascular Function in an Iron-Overload Murine Model 2004

Possible ameliorative effect of taurine in the treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia in female university students of Gaza, Palestine 2002

In the taurine group, there was a statistically significant additive positive change from the baseline values on Hb (2.67 +/- 1.24 g dL(-1)), red blood cell (RBC) count [(0.57 +/- 0.25) x 1012 L(-1)] and serum ferritin (30.33 +/- 17.99 microg L(-1)) as compared to placebo group values, which were 1.80 +/- 1.10 g dL-1, (0.39 +/- 0.36) x 1012 L(-1), and 20.11 +/- 7.34 microg L(-1), respectively.

Bicep · 2024-06-11T12:16:33.395Z

I noticed lactoferrin increased my iron from 13 to near 15 and thought it was an iron supplement, not so much according to Masterjohn:

chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com

Is Lactoferrin Chelating Your Iron?

There's a more likely explanation for its effects on iron markers.

I’m going to keep taking it for awhile, till my next blood tests.

Joseph_Lavelle · 2024-07-14T16:53:38.758Z

Here is my episode on Iron with our own Dr Grant Fraser! This is a very informative chat that covers the basics. My conclusion for myself is that I am going to increase my frequency of whole blood donation to every 8 weeks (instead of 12 weeks). I would shift to doing red blood cell donations (2x RBC) to dump iron faster but I cling to my hope that dumping plasma is a benefit even though there is no evidence. To avoid getting low on iron I will watch my ferritin and slow down if I get below 50.

wise athletes podcast

#139 | Finding your Iron Sweetspot for Performance and Health | Grant Fraser...

Finding your iron sweetspot for athletic performance and long health. Too little iron can mean chronic fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness. Diets low in animal proteins, frequent hard workouts, low stomach acid, gut issues causing poor...

Est. reading time: 7 minutes

RapAdmin · 2024-07-14T21:24:10.461Z

Thank you to both of you @DrFraser , for this. I look forward to listening to this during my workout today!

Joseph_Lavelle · 2024-07-14T22:57:55.369Z

I hope you like it! It was great working with Dr Fraser on this (and a forthcoming episode on Vit D). I learned a ton.

DrFraser · 2024-07-14T23:10:24.662Z

It was a great opportunity. Haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, and it was great to meet Joe. It’s a challenging topic for sure.

RapAdmin · 2024-07-15T02:24:12.570Z

Just a note to everyone, I recently went into a red cross blood donation center and they told me to download their app (Android or IOS), and you can easily identify the blood donation center closest to you, and make an appointment.

Here is a link to the android app

play.google.com

Blood Donor

Donating blood and platelets is easier than ever with The American Red Cross...

Free

and for Apple IOS:

App Store

‎Blood Donor American Red Cross

‎The American Red Cross Blood Donor App puts the power to save lives in the palm of your hand. Donating blood, platelets and AB Plasma is now easier than ever. Features: · Find local blood drives and donation centers quickly and easily ·...

ReppinMycin · 2024-07-15T08:03:24.608Z

That is a very high rate of donation, do you have genetic haemochromatosis or are you on TRT causing high hematocrit? I only donate once every 16 weeks or so which seems to keep my ferritin well under 100 but staying above 20.

Also there could be some benefits to dumping plasma for PFAS and other pollutants so don’t write it off yet (Although I am not aware of positive health outcome data for plasma donation the same way there is for whole blood).

I’ve put the episode in my podcast queue and will listen to it on a morning ride/run sometime this week.

jeanbaptiste · 2024-07-15T08:31:00.228Z

image736×526 28.5 KB

After 3 blood donations. I feel pretty tired.

John_Hemming · 2024-07-15T08:58:38.956Z

That ferritin is really low also your haemoglobin is low. That may have been a donation too much. Your ferritin is low anyway. (the previous value was 15 mcg/L.)

Do you have iron figures?

To me this looks anaemic.

I would also check copper. To build your RBC up again you may need extra copper.

jeanbaptiste · 2024-07-15T09:05:01.596Z

Last time I checked cooper was great, at the high end. I’m currently taking 1mg of B12and 800µg of B9 as natural folate, and 1.2g of lactoferrin for the iron. I’ll check ferritin in few months to see if it goes in the righ way.

DrFraser · 2024-07-15T11:32:39.123Z

You’ve over donated and will be having all the effects mentioned in the podcast. You’ll have robbed iron from other important functions.

This includes brain function, mitochondrial energy, myoglobin for muscular function, stacks of enzymes. Really not good to be iron deficient. Listen to the podcast to understand why hemoglobin isn’t the way to track this.

Do not donate blood if your ferritin is less than 50.

Joseph_Lavelle · 2024-07-15T11:52:55.426Z

@ReppinMycin I am unaware of genetic issues related to iron overload but I doubt it (never donated blood until recently). No TRT. I have been donating whole blood every 3 months (4x so far) without any change to my related blood markers. I’m in the green on everything with high normal hemoglobin and low normal ferritin. I’ll be watching carefully for any drop in ferritin which I don’t need … I’m looking for my threshold. I’m guessing I absorb iron very well when my body wants more.

Barnabas · 2024-07-15T16:23:45.469Z

I donate whole blood six times a year. I have been doing this for a few years now. I have not noticed any negative effects. I do not think I have ever seen ferritin in my bloodwork though, so maybe I don’t know what I would find there.

LukeMV · 2024-07-15T18:34:46.194Z

Donating for TRT purposes is useless since a higher hematocrit is not causative of any cardiovascular issues in someone without the rare bone marrow disease called polycythemia vera. The hematocrit will just go back to right where it was in a few weeks after a donation if on TRT.

That being said, donating to reduce a higher ferritin is a slam dunk for health reasons.

LukeMV · 2024-07-15T18:44:49.780Z

I think you’re playing with fire here. Donating 6 times a year sounds pretty risky. I’d be surprised if you had a ferritin above 10-20. I’d get ferritin checked asap and take a little break from the donations. Do you feel really tired a lot by any chance?

LukeMV · 2024-07-15T18:46:42.677Z

I tanked my ferritin in the past and it really sucked. Now it stays around 50-60 so I don’t donate blood anymore. I’d do it if it went up but until then, I’d rather not.

Barnabas · 2024-07-15T18:58:52.178Z

I don’t feel tired. I feel like @Agetron looks.

DrFraser · 2024-07-15T20:07:40.616Z

I agree with this - you can get a polycythemia (increase Hgb) due to TRT … the issue is usually not necessarily resolved with donation (short term it might settle), but ultimately, the dose of the TRT needs to be moderated so it doesn’t drive so much formation of blood cells. Generally if I see someone get a couple of grams >baseline or certainly >18 g/dL I’m getting really uncomfortable about the dose of TRT they are on. It however isn’t exactly an iron overload issue, it is a drive to hematopoiesis.