Vitamin supplements Vit D Vit B12, magnesium citrate and calcium citrate

[CS1964]

Hi yesterday I went In Holland and barrett and purchased the above... my GP advised me to get them but I can’t rememember why as my brain fog is off the scale. I have posted before and am hypothyroid, ceoliac, carpal tunnel, white finger...lichen sclerosis.... can you enlighten me how these vitamin supplements work?.

[shaws Administrator]

If you haven't opened these vitamins you might have to return them if they are not the correct ones you need.

Do you have a print-out of your results with the ranges that you can post, so that will enable members to respond. You should always get a copy of your blood test results with the ranges for every blood test you have - for your own records.

Most health shops don't always hold the ones we require, for instance B12 and Vit D are pro-hormones and it is essential to get the proper ones. i.e. B12 for instance is best if it is methylcobalamin sublingual (most only sell cyanocobalamin B12). I also believe Vit D should be D3.

How low is your B12? The reason why I am asking if it is very low the doctor should test the 'intrinsic factor' to ensure you don't have pernicious anaemia or a B12 deficiency as either could mean you need B12 injections. Taking supplement B12 before getting a proper test could mask any deficiency problems.

[CS1964 in reply to shaws]

Thanks a lot, I will make sure I get results for any blood test from now on. I have posted my results to Seaside Susie... I will also make sure I ask for a full panel of bloods next time I get bloods taken

[bantam12]

Unless your calcium level is very low it's not a good idea to take both vitd and calcium, the vitd will improve calcium absorption so if you take extra calcium you risk pushing the level to high which is not good.

[CS1964 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks bantam12.... it was my Gastro consultant that advised the calcium due to me being Coeliac because of a risk of Osteoporosis....I didn’t ask for blood results as I’m still very new to all of this....I have been blaming all my symptoms over the years on menopause so I’m just doing what I’m told by the Drs.... this forum is amazing, everyday is a school day... what happens if the level is too high?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Are these H&B own brand? H&B own brand are generally pretty rubbish.

Can you either link to them or give the name of them and I will look them up.

In the meantime don't open them as it may be best to get something better.

Can you post your test results (with ranges) so I can see what doses you need and let you know what level to aim for.

[CS1964 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Seaside Susie, the Vit D is Dlux3000....daily Vit I ‘don’t know how to do a link. ' Vit B12 is Boost....B12oost daily vitamin oral spray

Solgar Magnesium Citrate highly absorbable and Solgar calcium citrate.

I have temporarily lost my results...I know I put them in a safe place.. I have posted my recent results before....they were not very informative as my G.P only tested the TSH and Vit B12. When I was first diagnosed last May 2017, that’s when she told me to get the vitamins my TSH was above 10...can’t recall the levels....then July 2017 the TSH was 6+....I’m sure the TSH was 1.62 in December 2017. I asked for a blood testnas I was experiencing some of my old symptoms breathlessness, going faint on standing, no motivation, gaining weight, no eye lashes, actually my eye lashes turned white a long time ago..painful fingers,,. Freezing hands, a

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

OK, the sprays are by BetterYou and those are fine, I was just worried that you'd wasted your money on H&B own brand which is generally pretty poor. Solar is OK too but that brand seems to have gone very expensive. For magnesium citrate check out Natural Calm Original mag citrate powder, it's available on Amazon but check prices as it can vary quite a bit. I buy the 16oz size as it's better value and watch and wait until the price lowers. I mix with orange juice to make a small, pleasant drink before bed.

As mentioned, you won't need the calcium unless tested and found to be deficient.

[CS1964 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks a lot...I am still not at all clued up about what is low B12...

my B12 in December was 440 (191-663)

TSH was 1.62 (0.27-4.2)

Free T 15 (12-22)

Folate >20.0 (191-663)

That’s all that was tested...the results were filed and I was told I was fine

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to CS1964]

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."

So your level is lower than recommended there. Your Boost B12 spray, if it is the 1200 mcg one, is fine for improving your level.

Your Folate is good at >20 although you have put the B12 range next to it

You need to know your Vit D level before supplementing. The recommended level is 100-150nmol/L. If you supplement when you don't need to you can reach toxicity level because excess Vit D is stored.

As for your thyroid results, if you are still symptomatic then there's room for a dose increase as the aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges if that is where you feel well.

However, it's useful to have Ferritin tested because that needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work.

[CS1964 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your good advice. I am symptomatic, muscle fatigue when walking upstairs and desperately gasping for breath,..I use the computer a lot so my fingers and wrists are extremely painful. The weight gain is the hardest thing to deal with because I have always been very slim..only because I have loads of clothes I can’t wear..... my eyes are sore, I was diagnosed with an epiretinal membrane a couple of years ago...however a recent eye test confirmed it is improving so the gluten free diet is helping in other ways... I have recently started to get headaches where I’ve never been prone to headaches...I eat entirely gluten free due to Coeliacs and I think that has helped balance the numbers...so if the results are nearly bang on why do I have symptoms? When I was diagnosed I had this image that the G.P gives you tablets and voila....sorted... but I now know that’s not the case....I will heed your advice