Hi I just read the article Thyroid and vitamins and minerals on the thyroid UK site and I'm now at a loss as to what supplements I should be taking.I'm taking Vitamin B complex, , vit D3 and B12 1000mcg. Do I need things like selenium, magnesium and zinc. These all seem to be needed for conversion of t4 to t3. If I do need to take these supplements,then how much? I've also been advised to take vit C.
Can I please can I have some help!! Regards Jazzbox21
Jazzbox, I take 375mcg magnesium because most of us are likely to be dietary mag deficient, and 15mg zinc because it's synergistic with mag. 1,000mg vitamin C for immune support, B12, B Complex and vitD3. I don't supplement selenium but used to eat Brazil nuts daily. I took a lot more supplements 18 months ago but eased off when I felt better because I was frankly sick of pill popping.
Hello Jazzbox,
I supplement loads and am fed up too of having to live my day around a supplement schedule.
Supplements are a personal choice and depend on your diet, life style and deficiencies. Ideally it would be great to be tested for every vitamin and mineral and consult with a nutritionist but this isn't really practical so many choose a general assortment known to be beneficial to people with thyroid conditions.
Doctors only generally consider tests a supplements for iron and B12 to be essential as deficiencies in these are common but serious.
As a starter I would recommend a good B complex with high B12. (If deficient in B12 you will need to supplement separately aw well to raise to optimal level.)
Vitamin C at least 500mcg with bioflavonoids to ensure good absorption.
I supplement selenium because it is known for excellent thyroid hormone med conversion T4-T3.
A good quality fish oil ( Eskimo are popular) for omega oils as "thyroidys" are usually dry...as in skin, hair, eyes...
There are plenty of others and other members will advise you that this is best and that is best but you need to decide yourself.
I believe some supplementing is essential as thyroid problems can put a terrible strain on the body and cause malabsorption problems leading to deficiencies.
Other common supplements to consider are Vit A, Vit D, Vit E, zinc & magnesium, calcium...the list is endless... And of course iron if you are deficient.
Flower
Hi Flower, thankyou for your help. I'll get ordering.
Jazzbox
Jazzbox,
This forum is supported by the charity ThyroidUK. You do not have to join the charity to benefit from this forum but by doing so you will be supporting the charity and also entitled to various discounts when buying supplements, as detailed in the link.
Flower
I'm also looking for supplements to support my half-a-thyroid after having a nodule removed and see some products on Amazon eg Thyroid Support Formula & Thyroid Complex - can anyone recommend these?
5m after my op and I'm improving slowly - TSH was 2.91 (0.3-3.94) at the last test 10th Aug (early morning with fast), down from 3.34 (mid morning no fast) a few weeks earlier. Feeling a lot better too so would like to try and get it working properly before I resort to self-medication (GPs not inclined to even give me the full tests let alone any help as I am "within range").
My tests for the main ones showed I've got high-ish levels in all except vitamin D, so I take quite a general set:
A good multi vitamin /mineral, because I think this helps balance things out.
A fish oil (1000+), because we can all do with a bit of help in terms of dryness
Vitamin C 1000mg because it's good for everything
I now also take 1000u.i. Of Vitamin D to try and increase that.
Hello kay,
I take it your doctor did not prescribe thyroxine then?
Do you know if you have thyroid antibodies? Most "Thyroid Support Formulas" contain iodine which is controversial when Hashimotos or Graves disease is present as iodine is known to stimulate the thyroid gland.
You may be better just supplementing the usual vits and minerals. The link below advises what is recommended for hypothyroidism.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...
This forum is supported by the charity ThyroidUK. You do not have to join the charity to benefit from this forum but by doing so you will be supporting the charity and also entitled to various discounts when buying supplements, as detailed in the link below.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...
Flower
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