Hi I'm new to the site. I have been on thyroxine now for 11 years . My dose has gone up to 100mcg and I have low B12 and low White blood cell count, does anyone know why or if they are connected?

[Kimberley]

desc

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Kimberley,

The way in which we absorb B12 is complex. And it is very easily disrupted by things such as inappropriate acidity of the stomach, alkalinity of the intestine, insufficient production of intrinsic factor in the stomach, etc. All these have to be just right in order to absorb the B12 - provided there is sufficient in your diet in the first place.

Thyroid issues are themselves likely to affect these factors and cause reduced B12 absorption. There is an association between autoimmune thyroid disases and autoimmune gastritis. The gatritis itself is a major cause of poor B12 absorption. So there is most certainly a connection.

In another answer I have just posted the following about B12:

You may care to read the Cochrane review "Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B1+2 deficiency" - it could be a way of taking in sufficient B12 without the cost and discomfort of regular injections.

"Authors' conclusions

The evidence derived from these limited studies suggests that 2000 mcg doses of oral vitamin B12 daily and 1000 mcg doses initially daily and thereafter weekly and then monthly may be as effective as intramuscular administration in obtaining short term haematological and neurological responses in vitamin B12 deficient patients."

www2.cochrane.org/reviews/e...

Given the above there is absolutely no reason I can think of to remain low in B12.

You may care to have a look at the Wiki article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perni...

or a more formal medical article at eMedicine:

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

Low white blood cells have numerous causes including pernicious anaemia.

All the best

Rod

<b>Updated on Jun 30 2010 8:33PM:</b> Just in case it isn't clear - pernicious anaemia is the the disease that results from inadequate B12 - which can be directly caused by hypothyroidism and/or autoimmune gastritis.

Therefore low white bloods cells *can* be due to autoimmune thyroid disease.

This Wiki page has a reasonable description and list of possible causes:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuko...

Or for a heavyweight read:

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

(assuming low neutrophils).

[Kimberley in reply to helvella]

Thank you, your comments are helpful I was informed by a friend that theB12 deficiency could be my thyroid as I eat extremely healthy with plenty of meat and dairy produce. Still would love hear if anyone else knows if thyroid is responsible for low White blood count. Thank you .