High Ferritin Levels: How can I lower my levels?

@bellereve Thank you for sharing your plan and congratulations on your success. I have definitely focused on much of what you are doing; however, I have not been able to cut out all sugar, but still trying. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me.

@desicuban
I have non alcoholic fatty liver and high ferritin. I was told to cut out all red meat, processed food, sugar, fried food, vitamin C.
Stay on Mediterranean diet.
My liver panels ate now normal and ferritin level is going down.
Just have to figure put how
To reduce inflammation in my body.

@colleenyoung yes, still followed by Mayo Clinic AZ. Dr Sami Alasfar is my main post transplant nephrologist w visits. July 2026 will be 3rd anniversary post transplant.
I just read your msg back. It's March 22, 2026. I am going to contact Mayo kidney transplant dept tomorrow. I now have a UCSF post nephrologist since Nov '25 for appts following monthly kidney transplant labs. She called my now Stanford hematologist personally looking at ferritin, cbc, and iron saturation labs from Stanford done week prior and post 1st monthly 500 mL pheb pull in January 2026 for ferratin overload w drop in hemoglobin and iron saturation so low 13 and 17% that I can't be too low hemoglobin and iron saturation w kidney transplant. (Mayo Clinic AZ 7/25/23). We are now only pulling 250 mL phebl pull labs before and after. And now PA and I discussed spacing them 6 weeks or so apart 250 mL phebl pull of high ferritin. 3rd one is this week. I'm exhausted w hemoglobin drop/ iron saturation low and worried about my kidney transplant. exhausted.

@persimmons, are you still followed by the transplant team at Mayo Clinic AZ? You may wish to contact them with your concerns.

@JustinMcClanahan I am also glad I found this dialogue on high ferratin. I run at 1,200 to 1,000. Was at 1,600 while in dialysis 3 and 1/2 yrs. I was high ferratin even before dialysis. I received my kidney transplant w Mayo Clinic AZ 7/25/23. My ferratin runs at 1,000. I had my 1st pheb pull of 400 mL (was to be 500 mL but very slow veins/ hard stick) Pheb. pulls w UCSF are to be monthly. With my kidney transplant I didn't like that it dropped my Hemoglobin 2 pts from 14.9 feeling like gold the moment w transplant. I have put pheb pulls on pause bc I don’t like the hemoglobin drop on my kidney transplant. They tested way back and it's not generic. I got a second opinion at least liver dr brought up maybe something is causing the inflammation? MRI showed severe iron overload on speen, and mild on abdm.
Is a pheb pulls monthly the only way to deplete the ferratin? If I didn't have. a kidney transplant I wouldn't be so concerned w hemoglobin dropping 2-3 pts instantly from 14.9.
Is pheb pulls 500 mL for ever. I have low iron saturation and transferrin, Ferritin 1,000.
Not sure if inflammation?
I try to follow low iron and got rid of cast iron skillet. How can one address if inflammation cause. Should I make appt w Mayo AZ liver and hemot dr? Bay Area is stumped why high. Their solution pull pheb which drops hemoglobin on transplant. What are other side affects of high ferratin. UCSF peninsula hemo and Stanford liver dr discuss none of this. CA 10 yr wait for kidney so they don't have much experience w transplants and high ferratin. Sorry for long post. I would like to get to cause high ferratin? inflammation? and who to see.

@islandgreen I do not have Hemochromatosis, but I am in remission for bone marrow cancer. Over the years, I have had chemotherapy and blood transfusions. My ferritin level is now at 800 after dropping from 1200. I have had phlebotomy treatments to get it to 800 and more are scheduled. Because of my bone marrow cancer, we have to keep a close eye on my hemoglobin levels. Every time I have phlebotomy, my hemoglobin drops. My question for anyone who may know, what is an acceptable amount of dietary iron intake on a daily basis. I am losing weight because I am trying to avoid food with iron. My oncologist told me not to eat red meat, shellfish or liver, no iron or Vitamin C supplements, but almost everything has iron in it. Does anyone know of a recommended daily allowance of iron for patients with high ferritins undergoing phlebotomy? Have you ever heard of a specific diet or recipe book? I was also told to drink black tea because it helps block iron absorption. Thanks to anyone with any ideas.

71 yr old obese female.
My ferritin level: 2,580
ALT: 1,065
AST: 703
Likely reason?
A tiny little hormone pill twice a day designed to help me prevent uterine cancer.
I’d rather have a hysterectomy!

High ferratin levels are one indication of hemochromatosis, the other is to look at your iron saturation %, if it is above 50% you probably have two genes, thanks mom and dad. A DNA test is the only way to firmly establish that you have two mutated genes. It is not true that being a blood donor, your blood will be discarded, just tell the blood bank. They were glade to see me coming, would seperare my donation into smaller containers to use for infants needing more iron. I started being a donor in 1975 and donated every other month untill 2015, am now 93 years old. I don't seem to accumulate iron anymore.

I have to go to a hemototlogist for high ferratin. I have blood work done every four months. I do hav hemochromatosis.

No medication but a strict diet is necessary to keep the ferratin low. NO red meat for sure and many other things like no leafy green vegetables. If the ferratin level becomes to high they have to do a phlemobotomy and I hate that because in my case it hurts. So I sticr rigidly to the diet. You really should go to a hemotologist and get the diet.

I donate blood to lower my ferritin level every few months. My hematologist says to do that so my blood can be used, if they took it they toss it. I have been tested 3 times for hemochromatosis, all negative, over 10 years. Though, my doctor thinks they are missing something and I could in fact have a form of hemochromatosis that they don't yet test for. He did mention at the hight of covid that he saw infected people with VERY high ferritin levels, and after they got better their ferritin levels dropped back to normal.