Supplement advice please

[Lauren_T]

I have hashimotos from my high antibodies also been getting more colds and viruses later, guessing my immune system is weak? Taking 1 iron tablet, 800iu vitamin D, folic acid 5mg and B12 injections thanks

December 2017

Ferritin 32 (30 - 400)

Folate 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)

Vitamin B12 241 (180 - 900)

Vitamin D total 34.6 (25 - 50 deficient)

[shaws Administrator]

Your results are very low and I will add in SeasideSusie whose advice is excellent. Deficiencies can also cause us to have unpleasant symptoms.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lauren_T

Low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia. Have you had an iron panel and full blood count? Confirmed iron deficiency anaemia requires 2 or 3 Ferrous Fumarate daily. Do you take your iron tablets with 1000mg Vit C and take it at four hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from other meds and supplements?

Your can help raise ferritin by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week.

800iu D3 won't raise your level, you need to buy your own and take 10,000iu daily for four weeks then reduce to 5000iu daily and retest in 3 months. When you've reached the recommended level of 100-150nmol/L (according to the Vit D Council) then you'll need to find your maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range.

D3 has important cofactors 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 chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

The Pernicious Anaemia Society forum can give advice on B12 and folate healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Lauren_T in reply to SeasideSusie]

Iron panel and complete blood count showed anaemia and I don't take vit C with iron and I leave 6 hours away from levo and other medication and supplements

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauren_T]

Lauren

So you should ask your GP why you are not being prescribed the correct treatment.

See 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."

You need to take each iron tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation.

[Lauren_T in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks GP is waiting for new bloods to come back for ferritin before issuing me with any more iron

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauren_T]

It's not the ferritin that we're looking at here. The fact the you have confirmed iron deficiency anaemia requires 2 or 3 Ferrous Fumarate daily. You have the NICE Summary so you can go to the link, print it off and show it to your GP then ask why he isn't treating your iron deficiency anaemia appropriately.