Your thought on supplements

[Petriz]

Hi,

I'm regulary performin hair mineral analysis to get the correct dsage of minerals and nutrients that I need, but some things are not included in the test such as Vit D.

I'm wondering:

- What are yout thoughts on hair mineral analysis? Are they useful?

- Which nutrients/minerals are the most important for us trying to balance hypo medication to test? I have read many recommending Vid D, Ferritin etc?

- How do you keep track on what supplements to take?

Cheers!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

We advise full blood tests on here

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

If you have results and ranges of any blood tests you have had, members can advise

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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. When 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)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Petriz in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks! Always such elaborated answers!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Petriz

What are yout thoughts on hair mineral analysis? Are they useful?

I'm not sure about how accurate they are after a hair analysis many years ago told me I was allergic to my cat and it was causing the rhinitis I was suffering at the time. I'd had my cat for many, many years before I was affected with rhinitis. Eventually the rhinitis cleared up, I still had my cat at the time, have another cat now and a dog, and the rhinitis hasn't come back. So it's not something I would rely on.

Which nutrients/minerals are the most important for us trying to balance hypo medication to test? I have read many recommending Vid D, Ferritin etc?

As you have read, Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin.

How do you keep track on what supplements to take?

Test, supplement where low levels or deficiences show, repeat testing periodically to ensure supplementing at right dose.

[Petriz in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks! Very interesting to hear about your hair analysis! But I have heard that blood tests for magnesium, zink etc are not to be trusted?

But ferritin, B12, folate and vit D you can test in blood?

Anybody know why this is so?