Which supplements would you recommend?

[Emrose91]

I'm about to place my order with Holland and Barrett, I've got Magnesium with zinc, selenium, and D3 in my basket. Anything I could be missing? Determined to finally feel good, so sick of my thyroid controlling my life.

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link - you may not need them all. The final 3 are important for conversion.

[Clutter]

Emrose, K2 also works synergistically with D3.

If you haven't had ferritin, B12 and folate checked ask your GP at your next blood draw as they can be low in hypothyroid people.

[helvella Administrator]

I suggest that might be the wrong question! Although they can be convenient and useful, H&B are rarely my choice of supplier. There are many now - e.g. on Amazon - that might offer better ranges and often better value.

My own usual choice is here:

dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u...

It is very difficult to provide any good suggestions without knowing more. Have you been tested for iron? B12? folate? Or, for that matter, vitamin D or zinc?

10 out 10 for positive approach!

Rod

[silverfox7 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for the link Rob. I also made H&B my first stop and starting to look elsewhere now. I recently had a food intolerance test done and despite supplementing all vitamins were low which made me think that may be aren't the best ones to take!

[Emrose91]

Thank you everyone for your helpful replies. My GP believes further tests are unnecessary as my ranges are normal on levothyroxine. For a long time I wanted to believe this was true. As a result I'm on the maximum dose of fluoxetine and have had a community psychiatric review. He firmly believes I'm depressed and that's it. I will argue my case further with all your suggestions, and if he refuses to test me will finally find a new GP.

[Inna in reply to Emrose91]

Thats so common for docs to say its psychiatry, when they still didnt exclude all the other possibilities. Could you post all the test results you've had done with reference ranges? It would have been very helpful.

[Marz]

Please post your thyroid test results with ranges - and most importantly your T3 result. Low mood has LONG been linked with thyroid conditions and an optimal dose for YOU could help you reduce your AD's. T3 was once used as an AD. The brain needs a good supply of thyroid hormone - T3. When it is low various symptoms can appear. Conversely having too much can cause problems.

Please tell your Doc politely there is not such thing as normal. We are all individuals. Your TSH needs to be low in the ranges and the FT3 and FT4 towards the top of their ranges. Have you had your thyroid Anti-bodies checked ? This must be done. There is quite a bit out there about low mood and thyroid....so do have a read of other posts by typing whatever you choose into the search box on the green bar t the top.

Concerning supplements - I have read that there is no such thing as a bargain. The cheaper ones have endless fillers which may not be good for you in the long term.

Wishing you well and success with your GP.....

[Hidden]

I'd agree with Hellvella. Don't use H&B. Research each nutrient thoroughly before you purchase. There are varying types and qualities out there. For example, you may prefer to eat a few brazil nuts a day for selenium (if you can have nuts). If you can, it's always better to get nutrients from food as the food contains other cofactors which help absorption. Zinc picolinate is well absorbed. And try to get plenty of sun on your skin (not burning though) for Vit D. It's much better than a pill. Supplementation is most necessary Nov-March at the UK latitude (unless you're very depleted. As I say - research, research, research. Become your own expert!

[AnnaG75]

Hi, I've just discovered via thyroidpharmacist.com that along with the usual for thyroid: B12, folate, vit D and selenium you may also need copper. Plus if you take zinc it can strip out copper. Her description of copper deficiency exactly matches my symptoms of dizziness etc..

My latest supplement combo is Nature's Plus: Hema-Plex (though the B12 would be better in a different form I'm giving it a go) which includes copper, plus Life Extension Selenium 200mcg, plus Better You: Vitamin D 3000 spray.

The Thyroid Pharmacist says selenium in brazil nuts varies by 10-fold depending on where they are grown, so I guess sometimes it can be better to get your essentials from a good supplement. She also says not to take kelp, but Chris Kresser says you should take it as long as you take the selenium.

Good luck!