Do all: iron, ferritin, Vit D3, calcium, zinc, magnesium, B12, folate have to be in the high ranges for the body to utilise thyroxine?

[cc120]

I believe that all the above need to be in high range for us to feel very well, but for the body to utilise thyroxine, is it necessary for them all to be in high range or is only B12 essential?

[Moggie]

No not high in the range - I wouldn't want my ferritin to be nearly 300 - but at an OPTIMAL level.

Your VitD needs to be sufficient, which is usually above 75 (depending on your range), as taking to much vitD can increase your calcium levels which could then lead to your body depositing the extra calcium in places you really don't want it deposited in, like your kidneys or you heart. If your VitD is where is should be then your calcium levels should also be o.k. but have never heard of calcium levels effecting thyroid levels.

Your B12 (if your upper range is 900) needs to be approx 600 - 700.

Your ferritin levels needs to be over 70 for your thyroid meds to work properly and 80 to stop hair loss. Iron levels should increase as ferritin levels increase.

Folate levels should be over mid range.

Magnesium levels can be increased by using Epsom salts in the bath if these are low - but this has a very small range and blood tests for magnesium don't always show a true picture of magnesium in the body.

Moggie x

[cc120]

Thank you Moggie, very informative and quick! Can B12 levels be increased fairly quickly using sublingual methylcobalamin 5000mcg, 1 or more a day?

[HarryE in reply to cc120]

I'm not sure how long it takes to raise levels, but I'm using the sublingual ones and the patches too, that you put on for 24hours once a week

[cc120 in reply to HarryE]

Hi HarryE, you will have to update if effective after your next blood test, please?

[HarryE in reply to cc120]

Will do, but hampster is the b12 expert, she might know more

[Marz in reply to cc120]

Once on B12 the tests are pretty meaningless. The blood test reveals the B12 in your blood but only about 20% of that reaches the cells where it is needed. Also you need to take Folic Acid with the B12 as they are co dependent. there is an Active B12 test done privately at St Thomas Hospital....

Also B12 is very much affected by absorption issues in the stomach/gut....and as we know people with thyroid issues invariably have digestive/absorption problems.

Have a read of some of hampster1's posts....

[Moggie in reply to cc120]

The trouble with low B12 is that it could be an indication of another illness. Have you got low folate levels as well? If you have then you may have PA (pernicious anaemia) and by supplementing B12 you could be doing the wrong thing as any further B12 blood tests will not be telling the true story.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

How low are your levels?

Moggie x

[cc120 in reply to Moggie]

Thank you for your interest.

B12/FOLATE LEVEL- (KT) - normal – no action

Serum vitamin B12: 260 ng/l (190.00 – 663.00ngl)

Serum folate: 8.1 ug/l (4.60 – 18.70ug/l)

[Moggie in reply to cc120]

So your folates are not under range - I would supplement 1,000iu B12 daily but only after reading the link I gave you on PA as I am not an expert of the PA, B12 and folate connection.

I supplemented B12 for about 6 months to get them at an expectable level and my result was lower that yours. This is what I, and many on this site, use.

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

Hope this helps.

Moggie x

[cc120]

Hi reallyfedup123, do you need folate supplement when supplementing B12? I am currently taking 2 x day 210mcg Ferrous Fumerate a day to help with iron /ferritin levels as I read a lot of people finding Spatone (which I have been taking for nearly 4 weeks) ineffective at raising levels, even after months of taking.

[Moggie in reply to cc120]

Are you taking vitC with these - if not your body will be unable to absorb them and they need to be taken with food to stop them damaging the lining of the gut.

Moggie x

[cc120 in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie, yes taking with food an 250/500mg soluble vitamin C.

[cc120]

Hi reallyfedup123, on this forum and others I have read Spatone did not increase iron levels, even after months of use eg: Clarebear Administrator - ... The doctor has prescribed me 1 x 210mg tablet a day of ferrous fumerate. After taking this for 3 months my ferritin has increased from 26 to 61 and I am carrying on for another 3 months I was taking 2 sachets a day of Spatone for 3 months and my ferritin only increased from 25 to 26 I know others have had much more success with Spatone though, so not sure why it didn't work so well for me. I was severely hypoT at the time though so maybe due to that. x

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...