Vitamins, Supplements and 25MG Levothyroxine.

[Scconnor87]

Hi All,

Can the below vitamins cause damage to my health?

Vitamin C: 250 - 1,000 milligrams

· Vitamin E: 200 - 800 iu's

· Beta Carotene and mixed carotenoids: 1,000 - 5,000 iu's of vitamin A activity.

· Selenium: 50 - 100 mcg

· Zinc: 15 - 20 milligrams

· Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 1.5 milligrams

· Niacin: (Vitamin B3): 15 - 20 milligrams

· Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): 25 - 50 milligrams

· Folic acid: 400 - 600 mcg

and Biotin for my hair, a high dose of 5000mg until my hair hopefully starts to get better.

Thanks

Sam

[humanbean]

I would ditch the beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, rather than being vitamin A itself.

Instead I would take real vitamin A directly - e.g. retinyl palmitate or retinol oratate (hope I have those names right!) The reason is given on this link - people with thyroid problems can't convert beta-carotene to vitamin A very well :

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Also, I would take methylfolate rather than folic acid :

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

[Scconnor87 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you human bean.... I do not have the money to get private blood tests I would love to be able to get my vitamins and supplements checked.

I just do not want to do myself damage by taking vitamins

I will ditch the beta-carotene, I literally took the vitamin info from Thyroid UK website and got the vitamins there after thanks to my mum.

I wish now, i just got the vitamin checks done as I am losing my hair

Is there anything I should take or shouldn't if I have a low functioning thyroid?

[Scconnor87 in reply to Scconnor87]

I have the fatigue still going on too so I want to boost myself up with only a few but not a draw full of vitamins

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scconnor87]

Hair loss and fatigue can be due to low ferritin as well as hypothyroidism.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Are these in a multi Vit/mineral?

From what I understand:

Vit A should not be Beta carotene, it should be retinyl palmitate. I think the maximum recommended is 5000iu daily but haven't checked.

Folic acid is synthetic and not everyone can convert it so taking folate (methylfolate) is better as it's natural. It's an idea to know your level before supplementing.

I've read that long term we shouldn't take more than 10mg B6 daily.

Zinc should be balanced with copper and might be better to find out if you're deficient.

Selenium is fine to take up to 200mcg daily.

Vit C is fine to take 2000-3000mg daily, or even to bowel tolerance but best to spread throughout the day when taking those sort of amounts.

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

If you're going to get the zinc tested, copper should be tested, too. Your far more likely to be zinc deficient than copper deficient - especially if you're hypo. Taking both, in an attempt to keep them balanced, can sometimes backfire!

[Scconnor87]

So this is what I am taking -

Vitamin C - 1000MG

Vitamin E - 400IU

Selenium - 200UG

Zinc - 15MG

Vitamin D - 1000IU (25UG)

Folic Acid - 400UG

Multi B Complex -

Beta Carotene - 15mg

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scconnor87]

Is your Vit D level low? Recommended is 100-150. You should take K2-MK7 with D3. This is because Vit D aids absorption of calcium from food and K2 directs the calcium to bones and teeth rather than arteries and soft tissues. We also need magnesium when taking D3 as it is another co-factor.

Are you taking the folic acid as well as the B Complex? You've listed them both separately but in the other post you say there's 400mcg folic acid in the B Complex. Just wondering if the total is 800mcg or you're not taking a separate one.

If you've actually got a beta carotene supplement then you'd be better changing it to retinyl palmitate version of Vit A.

[Scconnor87 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Am I taking to much VIT D? I am going to look at K2-MK7 and retinyl palmitate

[Scconnor87 in reply to Scconnor87]

I was taken double folic acid thinking it wouldn't hurt... But I am going to stop the high dose and just stick to 400, would that be ok? x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scconnor87]

Again, what's your level? If your level is half way then a maintenance dose is all that's needed. If it's low then 400mcg methylfolate is enough to raise it.

[Hidden in reply to Scconnor87]

The only time not to take K2-Mk7 is if you are on Warfarin or other blood thinning drugs. Otherwise as SeasideSusie has said it is essential when supplementing Vit D/Calcium/Magnesium. This vitamin sends the calcium to your bones otherwise it goes to your veins... I know x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden I've found Vit K very confusing at times, but my reading tells me K1 is the blood clotting agent and K2 is for bones food4healthybones.com/blog/... - scroll down to "What kind of vitamin K do your bones need?"

I'd be happy to have some further information

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for this SeasideSusie,. I read about the warning on the product that I buy from Healthspan. healthspan.co.uk/products/v... I am always delighted when you tell people about the importance of it. I am still lowering my blood calcium levels due to lack of knowledge by my GP who prescribed Adcal and my own ignorance. xx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

It is confusing isn't it. I thought I'd bookmarked something about this but I've been out all day at hospital so haven't had a chance to look through what I've got on both my PC and my tablet. I'll try and find something definitive one way or the other and if I can get something concrete I'll make a new thread and give you a shout ☺

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

That would be very much appreciates SeasideSusie x Hope things went okay at the hospital? xxx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

It was for a CT scan for my lung disease Hidden . 3 hour round trip for 5 minutes in the scanner! It's not just thyroid that GPs are negligent with, long story!!

I'll see what I can find about Vit K

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Bless you SeasideSusie x thinking of you x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scconnor87]

You haven't said what your Vit D level is, recommended is 100-150. If your level is lower than that then 1,000iu D3 daily isn't enough, it's probably just about a maintenance dose in if you're level is optimal. It's important to test and know if, and how much, to supplement.

[Scconnor87]

Multi B Complex has -

Thiamin5.6mg

Riboflavin4.8mg

Niacin36mg

Vitamin B66mg

Folic Acid400µg

Vitamin B124µg

Biotin300µg

Pantothenic Acid12mg

Choline Bitartrate10mg

Inositol10mg

Paba10mg

[Anthea55]

There was a post here a few months ago, which showed that Biotin can upset blood test results.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Skip the biotin (or supplements containing it) for a day or two before your thyroid blood tests.

Magnesium can be worth taking.

[radd]

Scconnor,

As Anthea55 says above Biotin can falsely affect thyroid test results but won't directly affect thyroid function. When you stop Biotin, test results will return to true.

A B complex will not address a Vit B12 deficiency which is common in people with thyroid problems ( especially if you have gut issues). Unfortunately you can not know your Vit B12 levels without testing.

Also vitamin D ( with K2) should be considered. Can you ask you GP to test Vit D and others, and post results complete with ranges for members to comment on levels.

Vit B12, Vit D, ferritin and folate ( not folic acid but converted from folic acid) are the four most initally focused on as deficiencies are common in people with thyroid issues, and optimal levels are vital for good thyroid hormone synthesis.

Low ferritin can cause hair loss as well as low//high T3.

[Scconnor87 in reply to radd]

Thank you for all your comments!! So in regards to low ferritin levels... What can I take instead of Biotin? I do not want to be taking anything that affects my levels but want to take something thats going to improve my hair loss.

I have B12 and Vit D... Is there a ferritin and folate vitamin? xx

[Scconnor87 in reply to Scconnor87]

I am going to ask my doctor for more tests but last time I saw her she just kept informing me all my levels were normal

[radd in reply to Scconnor87]

Scconnor,

A doctors "normal" may not be optimal for a person with many health issues. These deficiencies are often caused by long term low thyroid levels and optimal levels depend on each other for well being to be achieved.

Ferritin and Biotin are not the same thing. Ferritin is a blood marker for iron levels and insufficient stores can lead to hair loss because hair follicles actually store ferritin . Iron should only be supplemented if a test shows you are low. The reference range is wide but you should aim for somewhere in the middle.

Biotin (B7) is known to be linked to hair & nails but it doesn't mean you are deficient as in hypothyroidism other deficiencies (linked to hair loss) are far more common. Also taking one B Vit may bring deficiencies in other B vits known to use the same receptors. It is better to take a B complex with high or additional Vit B12 (if required).

You have a right to see your medical records & test results under the Data Protection Act 1998. Ask for a print out of all your test results and post complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.

Some surgeries may charge a small cost to cover ink & paper, some need 24 hours notice to OK it with GP, some test results are available to patients online.

Symptoms may often continue for months after good biochemistry but many members have found hair loss reduces when iron and T3 are optimal.

.

Accessing your medical records

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/NHS_In...