Thanks, Chris for creating this forum. I'm always trying to keep any eye out for HPA axis info.
My TSH level remains low when my thyroid levels are below the normal range. The MRI of my pituitary showed no lesions and nothing remarkable. Testosterone, progesterone, and IGF-1 are low.
Lately I've wondered if the cause was from iron infusions that I had, because the following study indicated that iron can interfere with pituitary function.
tinyurl.com/3zopyu excerpt:
hypopituitarism has been shown to be linked to hemosiderin deposition in the pituitary as it was hypothesized previously by Berdel [13,14].Does anyone know if there is a test that would tell whether iron residue is embedded in my pituitary (besides slicing open my brain)?
If it is iron related, then does anyone think there could be a chance that acetyl l-carnitine could help this? ALC has been shown to significantly reduce lipofuscin deposition in three areas of the brain:
1)
tinyurl.com/6eewfz 2) PMID: 2589915
Thanks again, Chris.
Hi Apricot,
I have Heriditary Hemochromatosis so am well aware that Iron can deposit in organs/glands. That includes the Liver, Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Thyroid & the Brain.
Have you tested your Iron/Ferritin?
This is the complete tests to detect Iron Overload
•Cumulative Iron Studies includes
Total Iron Ferritin (Optimal Upper limit 80-90)
nb. Unless HFE +ve then 10-50 (preferably lower end)
HFE is testing for Hemochromatosis)
Transferrin (often not included in USA testing)
TFN Saturation % (aka
Transferrin
Iron
Binding
Capacity TIBC in USA)
nb. Watchout as Lab may show
male range for both when
Female Range is 30% upper liimit
Male range is 44- 50% upper limit
If high Ferritin and/or high saturation is found there should be further investigations. A CBC with ESR should be done to exclude infection as a reson for high Ferritin.
Liver Enzymes in particular should be tested (often elevated with Iron loading). Thyroid & Adrenals should be checked of course. Often Inflammation markers are elevated hsCRP, Homocysteine, Fibrinogin, etc.
If you want to test for Hemochromatosis the test is
•Hemochromatosis
HFE Gene Testfor C282Y & H63D Gene Mutations
If +ve one gene will accumulate Iron 50% more than others.
If +ve two genes will accumulate Iron 100% more than others.
There are many more ‘iron storage’ genes but only most Labs only test thses two.
Only way to LOWER Iron is to get bled (called Phlebotomy in USA or Venesection isn Australia). Usually 3-4 month intervals once
levels brought down to ‘low end normal’. May initially need 1-2 weekly to achieve this. Excess Iron often attacks Liver.
Ferriscan (special type MRI) is available to check Liver Iron Concentration (LIC) of Liver. Prior to this a Liver biopsy was the only way to test.
Must AVOID high Iron food (offal) & Vitamin C supplements as Vit C increases Iron absorption. Alcohol also increases Iron absorption.
As far as chelating Iron ALPHA LIPOIC ACID is an excellent one to use. Is also a heavy metal chelator (careful if have Amalgams or Mercury issues). I have used it with pretty good effect for the past 8 years. I only found out about my HH April 2007 and have started to have Phlebs done this year (due for my second). I also had short cycle & heavy periods since I was 9 years old. Some say this is bodies way of ridding itself of high Iron in body. Since Menopause of course my levels have increased hence the need to actively treat. ALA is supposedly the only thing known to pass the blood brain barrier too. Mercury will also infiltrate any organ & has particular affinity for Endocrine glands & the Brain. ALA is also a powerful Liver support, an antioxidant and a detoxer. Multiple low doses are better than single high dose too.
There is no way of testing Pituitary Iron infiltration except by MRI that I am aware of. Presumably the Ferriscan could be used but at present it is being used for Liver imaging only as far as I am aware. I have had the Ferriscan done myself & due to my many years of using ALA thankfully the LIC was quite low.
Lipoic Acid (aka Thioctic Acid)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoic_acidStudies of rat aging have suggested that the use of
L-carnitine and
lipoic acid results in improved memory performance and delayed structural mitochondrial decay.
Note R Alpha Lipoic Acid is more natural (and expensive) than S is better/stronger than S Alpha Lipoic Acid. Most supps have the S-ALA kind.
I found reference to Acetyl L Carnitine being used for Antiaging, Alzheimers (maybe Aluminium chelating?) but no specific mention of chelating Iron.
Lethal Lee.