Should I fast?

[MelonJ]

Hi,

I’m having gluten, b12, folate and ferritin test on Monday.

The forms don’t say fasting but should I?

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If not having thyroid tested, no it's not necessary

Make sure to keep eating high level of gluten.

[MelonJ in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon

[shaws Administrator]

I doubt you need to fast for those. We fast if thyroid hormones are being checked as the TSH is higher the earlier we get the test and and it also reduces if we've eaten.

This is re blood tests:-

Results:

TSH was suppressed in all subjects after food irrespective of the fasting levels. Free T4 values did not change significantly. This resulted in reclassification of 15 out of 20 (75%) subjects as subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) based on fasting values whose TSH values were otherwise within range in the postprandial sample. This may have an impact on the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism especially where even marginal changes in TSH may be clinically relevant as in SCH and in pregnancy.

Conclusion:

TSH levels showed a statistically significant decline postprandially in comparison to fasting values. This may have clinical implications in the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism, especially SCH.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[MelonJ in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws, I will be making sure I fast before my next thyroid blood tests 😊