Any truth/scientific basis for losing half-moons on finger nails with B12 deficiency?

[Jazzw]

Just wondering. I only have half-moons on my thumb nails. Last time time I tested for B12 it was ok, though probably not as high as it could've been. It's been a while since I supplemented.

Or is there some other explanation?

[Clutter]

Jazz, half moons are barely visible on my thumbs not visible on any other finger nails. Has always been thus for me. B12 was 370 when I started supplementing and 700+ a few weeks after supplementing 1,200mcg. I've continued supplementing 1,000mcg daily for 18 months but it's made no difference to half moons.

[Jazzw in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, I figured. :). A colleague of mine noticed a few years back that I had no moons and tried to tell me it was because I was anaemic. This was before I knew anything my thyroid issues or had any idea why I felt like death most of the time! A trip to my GP back then for an blood test for anaemia resulted in me being told "normal, go away and lose some weight." The usual...

I might start supplementing B Vits again anyway. It can't hurt, after all.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jazzw]

My B12 was 1200 when last tested and I have no moons. However, my dad had PA and I get neuro symptoms if my blood levels drop below about 1000 - not that GP cares.

[mistyinthemorning in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hello there, because of family history & health issues I have been looking into this for some time. Having a high level of B12 on test doesn't mean you're ok - it can mean that it isn't being converted to useable/necessary forms so can still lead to pernicious anaemia. Family history is a strong clue in all this. Anything like Parkinson's, MS, psychiatric symptoms, chronic fatigue/extreme muscle pain/POTs and lots more. All may actually in some cases (though not all) be partly (if not mainly) down to B12 deficiency.

[Vazquez_23 in reply to Clutter]

I had half moons like 2 months ago now they are getting smaller do you know why ??

[Clutter in reply to Vazquez_23]

Vasquez_23.

I've no idea.

[ann_g_k]

I've read that it indicates low thyroid/problems with metabolism. Like you, I only have half moons (though barely noticeable!) on my thumbs and my B12 is off the scale at the top. Unfortunately, I can't remember which website the info was from.

[Serendipitious in reply to ann_g_k]

I had no idea that I didn't have any half moons anymore. They are barely visible on my thumbnails. Now that I think about it I'm sure they were there when I was a child 😯

My B12 is also over a 1000 which is off the scale and that's without supplementing.

[Evo1]

OMG something else to ponder/worry about Where are my half moons and where did they go? I used to have 10 big clear half moons but after reading your post just noticed I now only have them on my thumbs - weird.... My B12 was over the top of the range about 6 weeks ago so I stopped mega doses of B12 only, although my B complex has a small amount of B12. Recent blood test B12 is still fine, fairly high but not too high. I am hypothyroid though...

Just googled it and found this (could be rubbish/could be good..): thisgreenearth.wordpress.co...

Suggests that it could be low iodine - I did an iodine test recently and was found low, I also do have very low blood pressure which the article mentions. interesting.... but probably not so useful right now good luck!

[Jazzw in reply to Evo1]

Hi again

Funnily enough, my moons have started to come back, though I did nothing any different - least I can't see that I did! They're not very big though.

I got myself some Vitamin B12 boost spray from Holland and Barrett yesterday as I figured it couldn't hurt to up my levels a bit.

Re the iodine thing - keep in mind there's iodine in both Levo and Lio - so when you do get started on taking your Lio you will start raising your iodine levels. I've read both pros and cons for supplementing with iodine, so I've not gone there and concentrated on getting my thyroid hormones up enough to get me better.

[Tashlentine in reply to Jazzw]

Out of curiosity, how have they started to come back? Do they start at the bottom and grow up as formed moons or sort of fade in full size? I don't remember ever having moons apart from on my thumbs. I'm anemic and have started taking iron supplements, probiotics and b12 and eating Himalayan salt on my food to get some iodine as I always cook from scratch and never added salt before (I'm on a real drive to get my energy levels up, banish my brain fog and dark circles so at new year I quit caffeine sugar gluten and dairy .. so basically everything I love to put in my face) and am noticing the base of a few nails are looking a little paler but fuzzy- not defined moon shapes. My nails are pretty pale anyway from the anemia so it's hard to tell if it's just that or if my body is actually trying to show me what I'm doing is working.

I'm afraid I don't put a lot of faith in doctors so haven't gone to one - my family have all been doctors for centuries and bless 'em I've always found doctors a bit too keen to prescribe quick-fix drugs for everything (that mess something else up down the line) rather than taking the time to explore root causes like nutritional deficiencies 🙄

Cheers!

[Evo1]

I had my iodine tested in case my iodine was too high - I had been on levo for a year and also in order to get my iron levels up I had been eating loads of tinned clams (high in iron) and lots of seafood. So I was really surprised to find that my iodine levels were too low. I had avoided any supplements with even a trace of iodine before that because I was worried also about what I had read about Hashimoto's and iodine supplementation but reckoned if it's low it needs to be raised. But thanks for pointing out that T3 contains iodine - that hadn't occurred to me...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

A few months ago we had this thread:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Quite interesting.