Folate deficiency

[Jillycee]

Hi, I have just received my latest results from Blue Horizons attached below. I am currently taking Jarrow Methyl B12 1000mcg and complete B complex daily. I take 100mcg Levothyroxine daily and Im on a gluten free diet. Could you please advise if I should start taking folate alongside the other vitamins? If so, what sort of brand/dosage?

Thank you

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Jillycee if you don't have an absorption problem Folate can be sourced naturally by eating leafy green vegetables, sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, spinach, peas, beans etc plus many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid.

Personally I have taken 1 – Folic Acid 400μg tablet every day for more years than I can remember and this sort of dosage can be bought over the counter at any supermarket of pharmacy.

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body.

Although your B12 level would be classed as "Normal" (I hate that word) it is not excessively high and fortunately you cannot "overdose" on it.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

I wish you well

.

[Jillycee in reply to clivealive]

Thanks clivealive. My B12 seems to be up and down like a yoyo. I get tested every 6 months and it was almost 1000 in September last year and I felt great. I've still been taking the same dose and it seems to have dropped a lot!!

[fbirder]

Im surprised your folate is that low if you’re taking a supplement every day. How much folic acid is in your ‘compete’ B complex?

[Howard39 in reply to fbirder]

Hi

Your thyroid levels take 3 and t4 are low in range. Ideally you need them in the top third ( esp t3) I dare say your gp will look at the tsh and think it’s fine. However 100 mgs of thyroxine is insufficient for you.

Vit d is also at low normal so I would be looking to supplement that too ( say 2000ui per day). You need to take k2 mk7 with it as well.

Are you aware you have hashimotos? ( thyroid antibodies) If so are you eating a gluten free dairy and sugar free diet?

If not that’s the first thing that needs addressing.

Many hashimotos patients do have absorbtion issues too.

Any questions please feel free to ask or message me.

Best wishes

[Jillycee in reply to Howard39]

Thanks Howard39. I don't tend to go to the GP anymore unless I feel the need for an increase, as they always seem so dismissive of thyroid issues and constantly tell me that I dont have any symptoms of underachieve thyroid......although they do say that I need to take Levothyroxine for the rest of my life!!! I get so annoyed going, so I just get my tests done privately twice a year now. I have been told I have Hashimotos and started a gluten free diet two years ago and it has made a huge difference! I havent gone sugar free and dairy free, but I do think that I may have a problem with dairy.

[Howard39 in reply to Jillycee]

Hi

Well that’s a good start.

You may wish to read Sarah Myhill. Co. Uk. You can search for anything but her Stone Age regime is good.

Sugar causes all sorts of issues and most people cannot tolerate dairy with thyroid adrenal and have hashimotos.

I am so much better than I was - I stay in a ketosis state. ( I think it’s under cfs the orchestra) It doesn’t matter you don’t have cfs the principle is the same.

I agree re gps but this specialist is the best all round doctor I know.

Either way your meds are too low.

[Jillycee in reply to fbirder]

I take the Complete B Complex from Holland and Barrett with my B12 Jarrow. There is 400ug of folic acid in 2 caplets, but I only take one a day with my B12.

[fbirder in reply to Jillycee]

I would add a supermarket folic acid supplement. 400 mcg per day.