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4 y/o labs

My son has been complaining of being tired despite sleeping well and has been looking a little pale.  He is also hyperactive, implusive, and the label of adhd is being thrown around.  So I had some labs done, his thyroid is great but his iron labs look questionable to me.  They look pretty similar to mine which is not good!  Actually they look slighly better…I am not thrilled with his vitd and his ferritin is low.  I just got off the phone with his doctor and says he is fine.  Am I missing something?  This looks like the start of an iron deficiency to me.  Please advise.

VITAMIN D, 25-HYDROXY 20 - 79 ng/mL 26
Ferritin 22 - 365 ng/mL 20
Iron 50 - 120 ug/dL 106
Iron binding capacity, unsaturated 110 - 370 ug/dL 264
Total iron binding capacity 228 - 428 ug/dL 370
Transferrin % saturation 14 - 57 % 29
WBC COUNT 5.0 - 15.5 K/uL 8.1
Red blood cells count 4.00 - 5.20 M/uL 4.35
Hgb 11.5 - 13.5 g/dL 12.0
Hematocrit 34.0 - 40.0 % 34.0
MCV 75 - 87 fL 78
RDW, RBC 12.0 - 16.5 % 13.1
Platelets count 140 - 400 K/uL 322
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Avatar universal
Actually now that I think of it, she said the reference range was for adults, so being that he was just under was just fine.  We have an appointment with his therapist Wednesday.  While he is good and training me on how to deal with the behavior I am sure his response will be just as idiotic.  When we started out he would not even entertain the idea of the behavior issues being nutrition related.
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Ferritin is a test for adults? O_o

"Serum ferritin is the most accurate test indicating iron status within normal range as well as iron deficiency and excess.  In a young growing child, who has got a very delicate balance between iron stores, requirement and supply, it is very essential to diagnose iron deficiency at a stage before it results in hypochromic microcytic anaemia." - Iron Deficient Children and Significance of Serum Ferritin.

***

"RESULTS:
The mean serum ferritin levels were lower in the children with ADHD (mean +/- SD, 23 +/- 13 ng/mL) than in the controls (mean +/- SD, 44 +/- 22 ng/mL; P < .001). Serum ferritin levels were abnormal (<30 ng/mL) in 84% of children with ADHD and 18% of controls (P < .001). In addition, low serum ferritin levels were correlated with more severe general ADHD symptoms measured with Conners' Parent Rating Scale (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = -0.34; P < .02) and greater cognitive deficits (r = -0.38; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that low iron stores contribute to ADHD and that ADHD children may benefit from iron supplementation."

Iron deficiency in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Dec;158(12):1113-5.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The peditrician thinks these are great, I dont understand?  She said that ferritin was a test for adults.  Is there somewhere else I should be posting this?  I would love some more feedback.  Are the optimal values the same for children as they are adults?
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Serum ferritin is the best lab test for the diagnosis of iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is #11 on the 50 conditions that mimic ADHD.
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