low B12 and low T3

[matty220]

Will taking a B12 supplement give my body a better chance of converting T4 to T3?

At the moment I have a low B12, high T4 and a low T3 although the gp won't do anything about the T3 because it is just within 'normal' range.

Thanks everyone x

[Marz]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Scroll down until you find my post about how to calculate the level for optimal FT3

[matty220 in reply to Marz]

Thank you Marz, found the formula. No wonder I feel cr*p, my T3 is 3.7!

[Marz in reply to matty220]

I cannot remember where I came across this formula - it must have been here - but do bear in mind I have not provided the science nor am I a medic

[Naomi8 in reply to Marz]

I was always rubbish at anything with maths in it,Its a sort of dyslexia.Please can you explain this formula to me?(as if talking to an idiot,please)

[Marz in reply to Naomi8]

Say your range is 3.5 - 6.8 for T3 ( Labs have different ranges ).

Take the top figure 6.8 minus 3.5 - the lower figure = 3.3

3.3 x 0.75 = 2.47

3.5 lower figure in range plus 2.47 = 5.9 - - a suggested result for the T3 with these fictitious figures

[Naomi8 in reply to Marz]

Got it!Thanks Marz!I won't start thinking about who worked this out & why it works!

Overthinking is another counterproductive trait of mine!

[Marz in reply to Naomi8]

....something to do with the 0.75 being three quarters - and we need a result in the upper quarter of the range - in fact the range for the FT3 based on the figures I invented - is 5.9 - 6.8.

Please remember I read this somewhere and am not a scientist or a medic !! I keep the formula in my brain book.

I was thrown out of Maths before o level - but managed to run a business

[Naomi8 in reply to Marz]

I was too!I went to evening class after,sat the exam & achieved the lowest grade of FAIL available.

I also ran a business for 24 years(1982-2006) & this brings back V.A.T formulae!

Does this formula apply just to FT3 optimal levels or T3 too?Or is the T3 result irrelevant?Am on T3 only at mo

[Marz in reply to Naomi8]

..sorry I am confused by your reply - should there be a T4 in there somewhere

[shaws Administrator]

I don't think so, bearing in mind I'm not medically qualified. I will say that if you take Vitamin C along with your levo it helps to convert which might do the trick for you.

If your B12 is very low your GP should do an intrinsic test which might indicate Pernicious Anaemia, otherwise supplement with methylcobalamin sublingual B12.

[greygoose in reply to shaws]

Shams, I thought that Vit C helped to absorb the Levo, not convert it. Do you know something I Don't? lol

On the other hand, we're always saying on here that you need optimal vit B12 to be able to convert. So, something not quite right, there...

[shaws Administrator in reply to greygoose]

You probably know far more than I do and I may not have been strictly accurate. It is agreed that our vitamins/minerals are vital. This quote does say that Vitamin C helps absorption ( I assume that means to T3 as T4 is useless unless it converts):-

Vitamin C improves oral absorption of the thyroid hormone replacement drug levothyroxine, according to a new study. The results will be presented Monday, June 16, at The Endocrine Society’s 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco

endocrine.org/news-room/pre...

I think the following extract is also helpful:-

The results also showed that the rats in group IV were able to increase their production of thyroid hormones. This proves that the antioxidant effects of vitamin C was sufficient to protect the thyroid from damage caused by the chemical pollutants.

progressivehealth.com/the-b...

[greygoose in reply to shaws]

"Vitamin C improves oral absorption of the thyroid hormone replacement drug levothyroxine, according to a new study."

Levothyroxine is T4. T4 has to be absorbed before it can be converted. It isn't converted in the blood. Then again, it has to be absorbed through the gut into the blood. So, it's not just T3.

[shaws Administrator in reply to greygoose]

As long as people feel an improvement with Vit C, I doubt they worry about the intricacies of whether we use absorbed/converted.

[matty220 in reply to shaws]

That's an interesting study, the SF one. It shows some people are realising we don't all 'glow' on Levo!!

[matty220 in reply to shaws]

I had to push to get the 50mcg cyanocobalamin!!

As it's 284 it's 'within range'

Doc not interested in spending more money I think!

[matty220]

How long do you think I should take the 5000mcg? I'm about to order some Jarrow from Amazon but don't know whether to get 2 x 5000mcg or 1 x 5000 and 1 x 1000

Should I go on symptoms?

[matty220]

Any thoughts on Jarrow v Solgar?