Vitamins etc: Taking 800iu only do I need... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,722 members161,505 posts

Vitamins etc

Allie6 profile image
12 Replies

Taking 800iu only do I need anything else addressing thankyou

Vitamin D 22.8 (<25 severe)

Folate 2.4 (4.6 - 18.7)

Vitamin B12 201 (190 - 900)

Ferritin 27 (30 - 400)

MCV 77.5 (80 - 100)

MCHC 379 (310 - 350)

Haemoglobin 121 (115 - 150)

Iron 9.3 (6 - 26)

Transferrin saturation 16 (10 - 30)

Written by
Allie6 profile image
Allie6
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
12 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How long have you had these results and has your GP seen them? If so what does he propose to do to improve

I will add SeasideSusie here - here's her reply to similar case from earlier today

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Allie6 profile image
Allie6 in reply to SlowDragon

Had results for a month

crimple profile image
crimple

Your results are pretty dire and 800 IU for VIt d is a waste of time with such low levels. You need some loading doses like about 10 or 20,000 IU and then eventually you will probably need 2-4,000 per day. Folate ferritin and iron are dire and B12 even though in range needs to be about 1000. Try methylcobalamin (Jarrow's 5000) from amazon. Seaside Susie on here is really good with dosing advice for vitamins. What are you TSH, T4 and T3 like?

Allie6 profile image
Allie6 in reply to crimple

TSH 0.36 (0.2 - 4.2 mIU/L)

Free T4 20.8 (12.0 - 22.0 pmol/L)

Free T3 3.5 (3.10 - 6.80 pmol/L)

Results from when on 150mcg levo, now on 50mcg thanks

crimple profile image
crimple in reply to Allie6

Why was your levo reduced so drastically from 150 to 50 mcg? I'm pretty sure you results won't be as good now. Too many docs haven't a clue re dosing. They think that because your TSH is near bottom of range (but your is still in range) you are overmedicated. You are not overmedicated according to the above numbers but probably not a good converter of T4 to T3, looking at you low T3 result. Better vits levels should improve conversion.

Allie6 profile image
Allie6 in reply to crimple

Due to low TSH

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Allie6

TSH went low after T3 was stopped, leading to dramatic return in Hashimoto's, poor gut function and dire vitamins as a result

These endo's should not mess about removing essential T3.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

See SeasideSusie very detailed vitamin advice

Eg this to similar dire vitamins

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Is there another GP you can see? Your own GP is negligent to have not treated these

Allie6 profile image
Allie6 in reply to SlowDragon

Yes there is another GP I can see I will ask to see him this week thanks

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Allie6 So not only are you being let down by your endo over your T3, whichever doctor has seen these results has let you down also, assuming that all that has been done is to prescribe 800iu D3.

Vitamin D 22.8 (<25 severe) 800iu D3

With severe deficiency, 800iu D3 will never raise your level. It is hardly a maintenance dose for someone with a reasonable level.

You need loading doses as per the guidelines - see NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

Treat for vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 30 nmol/L.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders. Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

Each Health Authority has their own guidelines but they will be very similar. Go and see your GP and ask that he treats you according to the guidelines and prescribes the loading doses. Once these have been completed you will need a reduced amount (not a paltry 800iu) to bring your level up to what's recommended by the Vit D Council - which is 100-150nmol/L - and then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

You should ask your doctor why he has ignored the fact that your severe deficiency needs loading doses.

**

Folate 2.4 (4.6 - 18.7) Vitamin B12 201 (190 - 900)

You are folate deficient with very low B12. Please check here to see if you have any signs of B12 deficiency b12deficiency.info/signs-an... Then you should post on the Perncious Anaemia Society forum for further advice, quoting Folate, B12, Ferritin results, iron deficiency information and any signs of B12 deficiency healthunlocked.com/pasoc

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

You should ask your doctor why he has ignored your folate deficiency.

**

Ferritin 27 (30 - 400)

For thyroid hormone to work ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range. You need an iron supplement and because your ferritin is below range ideally you need an iron infusion so ask for one (but you may only be prescribed tablets which will take months to raise your level whereas an infusion will raise your level within 24-48 hours).

Ask your doctor why he has ignored your below range ferritin, and if he says it's only slightly below range then ask him why are there ranges if they are going to be ignored.

MCV 77.5 (80 - 100)

MCHC 379 (310 - 350)

Low MCV and high MCHC suggest iron deficiency anaemia, point this out to your doctor and ask why he has ignored these out of range results and ask for the appropriate treatment - see NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for iron deficiency anaemia treatment (which will be very similar to your local area guidelines) cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

How should I treat iron deficiency anaemia?

•Address underlying causes as necessary (for example treat menorrhagia or stop nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if possible).

Treat with oral ferrous sulphate 200 mg tablets two or three times a day.

◦If ferrous sulphate is not tolerated, consider oral ferrous fumarate tablets or ferrous gluconate tablets.

◦Do not wait for investigations to be carried out before prescribing iron supplements.

•If dietary deficiency of iron is thought to be a contributory cause of iron deficiency anaemia, advise the person to maintain an adequate balanced intake of iron-rich foods (for example dark green vegetables, iron-fortified bread, meat, apricots, prunes, and raisins) and consider referral to a dietitian.

• Monitor the person to ensure that there is an adequate response to iron treatment.

Take each iron tablet with 1000mg Vitamin C to aid absorption and help prevent constipaton. Always take iron 4 hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from other medication and supplements as it will affect absorption.

**

In your position, I would try and see a different GP, sort out appropriate treatment, point out all the deficiencies that this GP has ignored, and give serious consideration to making a formal complaint. This GP has been negligent.

Allie6 profile image
Allie6 in reply to SeasideSusie

Ok will see a different GP thanks

Inaquandary profile image
Inaquandary

My Vit D was 42, I am taking 5000iu per day (from Amazon) along with Vit K2 to help absorption. Feels lots better. Total thyroidectomy and neck dissection on Friday!! 😫

You may also like...

Thriva tests for vitamins etc

finger prick blood tests? I sent in bloods for vitamins, cholesterol etc at same time as tests for...

vitamins etc and thyroid function

hi guys, just trying to get my head around Vitamins etc. My son is 20 and has just had his TSH come...

Vitamins etc private test

Ferritin 22 (30 - 400) Folate 2.8 (4.6 - 18.7) Vitamin B12 204 (190 - 900) Vitamin D, 25 OH hydroxy...

Best Vitamins etc. for joint pain?

Vitamins etc what levels should I be aiming for?

oxalate, Full Blood count, B12/ red cell folate and Vitamin D and I added ferritin! I am going...