Is Vit b12 really helpful for hyperthyroidism - Graves?

[Nathalie70]

Hello,

My endo has never say a word to me about vit 12. Is it common to take it for Graves?

Thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It is as clear as mud!

If people go through hypothyroid stages (e.g. on carbimazole), then yes.

Otherwise, it is not so clear.

Because Graves' patients often have TPO antibodies, and they are associated with gastric parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies, then I would jump towards there being an association.

Folate levels can definitely be compromised in Graves'.

I end up saying both folate and B12 would, ideally, be tested and supplements taken as indicated.

I did a PubMed search:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?te...

tinyurl.com/TUK-HU-B12-GRAVES

Rod

[Hidden]

Hi,

I have Graves and B12 deficiency. The B12 deficiency happened first (2006) but was not properly treated, and the Graves happened second (2012). As Rod touches on above, it was when I went hypo on ATM that my B12 symptoms accelerated alarmingly and I finally started to question my doctor and get proper treatment for this. Almost all my "hypo" symptoms disappeared with B12 treatment. My T4 isn't brilliantly high now but I feel so much better. I am positive for TPOab and anti-parietal cells, but negative for anti-intrinsic factor. I guess I'll never know, if my B12 deficiency had been properly treated in the first place, would I ever have gone on to develop Graves? Maybe, maybe not.

I also read somewhere, but can't find where, that your body has an increased demand for B12 when you have Graves, which makes sense given that everything is working at 100 mph. I'll try and find that link. So even if you're not deficient a supplement would be a good idea.

So in answer to your question, you absolutely can have Graves and B12 deficiency, and you should ideally get tested before taking any supplements. B12 and folate are normally tested together, ferritin is also vital.

Hampster

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Found a reference to it in a book called "Iron Disorders Institute Guide to Anaemia" by Cheryl Garrison, page 150:

"Individuals with severe and prolonged hyperthyroidism such as Graves' Disease have an increased demand for B12, which is used up more rapidly because of the disease; therefore patients with Graves' have an increased risk for Pernicious Anaemia."

And from here - WARNING - this article is not for the faint-hearted! Scroll down to the section Hematologic Changes:

thyroidmanager.org/chapter/...

It is possible that thyrotoxicosis may increase the need for vitamin B12, as shown experimentally, and perhaps for folic acid. Also, there is an increased incidence of antigastric antibodies and mild pernicious anemia in patients with Graves’ disease.The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity of red cells is increased in thyrotoxicosis [235].

Hampster

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Thinking a bit further...

Many Hashimoto's sufferers have had periods of at least high T3 and quite likely effective hyperthyroidism. Wonder if that contributes to the low B12 / folates we so often see in them?

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Perhaps, or you could flip it over and say could thyroid dysfunction be caused by these nutritional deficiencies? From B12d.org, the sections entitled Endocrine System and Immune System are interesting here:

b12d.org/3-b12-and-lipid-me...

So much more research needs to be done about cause and effect, it's exhausting trying to find answers.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

It most certainly is.

And without the chance to chat over with people who really know (at least to the current state of knowledge) - some of the best researchers do seem to have their heads on the right way round.

[Nathalie70]

Thanks a lot for all your answers. My endo and GP are not very competent I'm afraid, I was not tested for vit B12, Iron, or antibodies. I just had an uptake scan and a regular one. The uptake showed I had Graves and the scan no nodules.

I was put on a maintenance dose of 5mg of Carbi on December 21st and since then, my T4 have slighly dropped from 15 to 14 and my TSH has jumped from 0.8 to 2.4. My last blood test was 2 weeks and a half ago.

Thanks for all the links too Have a lovely week and best wishes

[Krealan]

If the body is in more demand for b12 when you have graves disease (hyperthyroidism), wouldn't it be beneficial to constantly be injecting yourself example I self inject once a week 1ml but maybe I should up that and inject twice a week Wednesday and Sunday example.

I have not been diagnosed with hyperthyroid by the Doctor or any test but I'm almost certain I have a thyroid disorder, mostly all my symptoms are still there after self injecting methyl b12 for about a month or two (weekly) .. the only symptom that has gone away is my fatigue and tiredness ... in fact I would say I am hyperactive now to some degree (talking a mile a minute e.g)

Has there been any study shown that high doses of b12 is helpful for thyroid conditions and are high doses of b12 harmful to the body in the long term??