My question is can boosting minerals & vitamins enhance levo uptake and absorption?
When originally diagnosed 21yrs ago and put on 100mg levo I had joint pain.
15/11/17 my TSH was 10.7 and on 75mg levo this was increased to 100mg
11/1 /18 retested TSH was 0.37 since then I have been taking supplements as advised by by forum.
Magnesium pure oil spray 66mg + Epsom salts in bath 3 times a week
D3 3000 oral spray + vit K2 MK7 Selenium 100ug
Vit C 1000 + gen multi vit & mineral tablet
Cod liver oil 1000mg X 2 daily ( to try and help with aches and pains )
Since being on this higher dose Joint pain and stiffness has increased making sleep very difficult ,when on the move it is easier,after sitting or relaxing it is very painful to get going again.I am not one for sitting around for long periods,this last week or so I have bee taking pain killers which I do not like resorting to.
So could these supplements plus the 25mg increase of Levo be to much ?
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Breena
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A multivitamin is not generally recommended, they usually contain iodine and that's best avoided, especially if you have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.
If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, and if on T3 don't take in 12 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
"My question is can boosting minerals & vitamins enhance levo uptake and absorption?"
Optimal nutrient levels will help Levo to work properly.
You need to aim for
Vit D - 100-150nmol/L
B12 - top of range
Folate - at least half way through range
Ferritin - at least 70 although I've seen it said for females 100-130 is best.
However, your previously posted thyroid results of
TSH 0.11 nIU/L 0.27 - 4.20
Free thyroxine 21.6 pmoI/L 12.00 - 22.00
Total thyroxine (T4) 120.00 pmoI/L 59.00 - 154.00
Free T3 4.59 pmoI/L 3.10 - 6.80
show a lowish FT3 as mentioned in reply to that post. Did you start taking selenium as suggested to aid conversion of T4 to T3?
Good conversion takes place when FT4:FT3 ratio is around 3:1 but no more than 4:1 and yours is 4.4 : 1
As your last test results were from 2 months ago, it would be worth retesting thyroid and nutrient levels in maybe a month's time to see if anything has improved.
If optimising vitamins and minerals and supplementing with selenium doesn't raise your FT3 level, then maybe consider adding T3
gen multi vit & mineral tablet
This wont be of any help. What is it? Multi's generally contain not enough of anything to help and they generally use the cheapest and least absorbable form of active ingredients. If it contains iron then nothing else will be absorbed because iron needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements as it affects their absorption. If it contains calcium and/or iodine then you should not supplement with these unless tested and found to be deficient. Iodine is anti-thyroid and used to be used to treat over active thyroid.
Hi Have just posted latest bloods I assume (please correct me if wrong) that High CRP relates to the joint pain which is quite bad and the only symptom left.
Vit D needs to go higher using spray 3000 at present.?
Folate I can up this from food ?
TSH is low would it be advisable to ask Dr to reduce it from 100mg to 75mg ?
I just want to say thanks to you and the forum for all the help you give .
I assume (please correct me if wrong) that High CRP relates to the joint pain which is quite bad and the only symptom left.
CRP is an inflammation marker so maybe, maybe your Vit D level though, what is is currently? Can't say if 3000iu D3 is the right dose without knowing your level.
Folate I can up this from food ?
I don't know your folate level but folate rich food will help. If your level is near the bottom of the range, personally I would take a B Complex until it's at the recommended level then see if you can maintain it with folate rich foods.
TSH is low would it be advisable to ask Dr to reduce it from 100mg to 75mg ?
TSH is irrelelvant when taking thyroid meds. TSH is a pituitary hormone, if the pituitary detects enough thyroid hormone then TSH will be low, if there's not enough thyroid hormone TSH will be higher. The important figure is the result of FT3. Depending on what your current FT4/FT3 are you can tell if you need less Levo and the addition of T3, or whether your current dose of Levo is satisfactory.
I don't know how much of folate rich foods you would need to raise that level to at least half way. Personally i would take Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B.
25 OH Vit D 73.9 nmoI/L 50.00 - 200.00
You could continue using your 3000iu spray, maybe double dose 2 or 3 days a week to bump it up. You need to reach 100-150nmol/L then find your maintenance dose. Do you take magnesium which helps your body use D3, and do you also take K2-MK7 - another important cofactor of D3?
Looking at your other thread, B12 and ferritin are fine.
TSH O .154 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20
Free thyroxine 21.000 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00
Total Thyroxine 118.0 nmoI/L 59.00 - 154.00
Free T 3 4.58 pmoI/L 3.10 - 6.80
Your conversion rate is 4.58 : 1 and good conversion takes place when it's between 3:1 and 4:1. You would probably benefit from the addition of some T3.
Thanks for info I take magnesium chloride brine spray 66mg plus bath salts twice a week. .also K2 mk7 ,I will boost the vit D as you suggest.and get the B as well.do you how I could get some T3 and how much should I take,
You will need to make a new thread asking for suppliers of T3. So that you're not asked the same questions about results again, you could link back to this post for information.
Replies will have to be sent to you by private message as information about suppliers is not allowed on the forum.
You would start with 1/4 of a tablet (6.25mcg). As your FT3 isn't dire, I would stay on that dose of 6 weeks then retest. You may only need a small amount, you may need a bit more added. Be guided by how you feel, and see where your new results lie. FT3 needs to remain within range. TSH can become suppressed when taking T3, and FT4 generally lowers. Some people lower their dose of Levo when taking T3. If your FT4 was over range I would have suggested that, as it isn't I would just add the T3 for starters and see how it goes.
T3 is treated the same as Levo ie take on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only and water only for one hour either side, and 2 hours away from any supplements (iron, calcium, magnesium 4 hours) and other medication.
When having thyroid tests, leave off Levo for 24 hours, but for T3 it should be 12 hours so you may need to alter the timing of your last dose before the blood draw.
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