Hi I am hypothyroid and post menopausal , I would like to take a calcium supplement but have a couple of questions an was hoping this forum could help?
1. Does it interfere with thyroxine
2 what is best time to take ?
3. Any recommendations on which supplement is best
Many Thanks
Susan
Yes it does interfere with thyroid function you are better off having a magnesium supplement
Hi Susan
Why do you want to take a Calcium supplement? Do you eat a full, well balanced diet? I wouldn't take a Calcium supplement.
Have you ever had a blood test to check your Vitamin D levels?
I would suggest first asking your GP to test for the following nutrients levels :
Vitamin D; Calcium
B12; Folate and
Ferritin
You may have deficiencies that need prescribed supplements. If not then I personally would not take any. Never take multivitamins or multiminerals.
Do you have your most recent Thyroid Function blood tests results? Are you happy with your Levothyroxine dose?
Guggulsterones or guggul is worth trying
also bladderwrack seaweed or Lugols iodine which you can dab onyour wrist so as to avojd overdoing it
B vitamins
Selenium
Zinc
Tyrosine
Worth trying for what? Making her thyroid worse? You don't even know why she wants to take calcium, so it's a bit irresponsible telling her to take iodine.
Err Soozy asked for advice on what supplements to take ?
With Lugols iodine dabbed on the wrist the body only takes what it needs which is the safest way to take iodine
If Soozy developed hypothyroidism as an autoimmune response then flaxseed oil is one of the best things she can take to treat the overactive immune system
In your last response to me you were saying flaxseed is a goitrogen and hypos shouldn't take it!
No-one should be taking iodine unless they have been tested and found to deficient. It's a myth that the body will just take what it wants if it's dabbed on the wrist. Iodine is not something to play around with.
Flaxseeds are goitrogenic ?
Flaxseed oil is such a good support for the immune system and so good at stopping allergies developing it is worth taking
There is going to be an epidemic of hypothyroidism, the markets are anticipating a massive growth in drugs to treat it
and it seems people are being kept in the dark about the importance of iodine
How many people are on here due to iodine deficiency and yet you keep saying how bad it is ?
Very few people I would imagine. And, as one who has taken it, and suffered the consequences, I think I'm entitled to say how bad it is. But, don't take my word for it. Post a question, asking if you should take it. See what people say.
And you know flaxseeds are goitrogenic, you said so yourself :
Flaxseeds are goitrogenic
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Flaxseedssssss are goitrogenic - not good for the thyroid they are estrogenic
Flaxseed oillllllll is good for stopping / reducing allergies high in omega 3 good for supporting the immune system - worth taking
Seeds not good
But the oil good ?
Evidence, please, that we only take what is needed if we dab Lugol's on the body?
12. Members posting on Thyroid UK must only post information which is true and correct to their knowledge. If relevant, please provide references to health or medical information.
Iodine suppresses thyroid. Last thing she needs, especially if she has Hashimoto's
Iodine should only ever be supplemented if fully tested by iodine expert and found to be deficient
drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...
Nice linked article. Just read it. Really had no idea that iodine should not be supplemented in those with hypothyroid. What about those who are eating raw cruciferous vegetables (Brassicas), such as kale, broccoli, collards, cabbage? Should those persons supplement with some iodine? How about cooked, whole, fermented soybeans, as is found in Natto?
Absolutely not. It wouldn't help, anyway. Even if goitrogens were a problem, which they're not when you're on thyroid hormone replacement. And, also, when you are taking thyroid hormone replacement, you are getting extra iodine. 100 mcg levo will give you 65 mcg iodine which is recycled in the body.
The jury is out about fermented soybeans. It has recently been suggested that fermenting doesn't get rid of the nasties, as we used to think, but actually enhances them. Probably ought to avoid all forms of soy to be safe.
I eat natto because it has the highest amount of Vitamin K2, in the form of MK-7. For example, a standard Styrofoam "tub" of natto, about 45 grams of natto, has about 450 mcg of MK-7 Vitamin K2. I want a good K2 intake for bone, dental, and arterial health....and to keep calcium out of the coronary and brain arteries. I started studying it and taking it when I learned that I have a high coronary artery calcium score
"Even if goitrogens were a problem, which they're not when you're on thyroid hormone replacement."
Are they not a problem for the portion of the thyroid that is functioning, and actually producing thyroid hormones? I know they are not a problem for the Synthroid I am taking....but due to the dose of Synthroid I take, I know that I must have at least 50% of my normal thyroid function intact. Are not goitrogens a problem for that?
But you're saying that taking some supplemental iodine would not help "counteract" the effect that goitrogens have?
Yes, I am saying that. Because goitrogens act by blocking the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland. So, that would be the case whether it was iodine from food or supplements.
You would have to ingest an awful lot of goitrogens for it to seriously affect the thyroid. And, it would depend what goitrogens you ate, because not all goitrogens affect all people.
Forgot to say that soy is not just a goitrogen. It also affects you at a cellular level by impeding the uptake of thyroid hormone by the cells.
Why Iodine ? That's also a 'no'
Soozysoosop
If not already tested, you need to know your calcium level before considering supplementing.
Iodine is mentioned in another reply, that's something else that shouldn't be supplemented without testing and knowing your level. Taking iodine can make hypothyroidism worse.
Best not to take calcium supplements unless you are actually deficient, calcium and parathyroid levels are kept within a fairly tight range and shouldn't really be messed with, better to stick to a diet which includes calcium rich foods.
Get vitamin D and calcium levels tested before supplementing . If vitamin D is low then you will want to supplement with D3 and the cofactors magnesium and K2-MK7. Eat calcium rich foods at every meal to ensure sufficiency.
Although there is some debate about the best way to get calcium, If you are not dairy intolerant it is an easy way to get calcium and other minerals. The fat and lactose content help you to absorb the calcium apparently. Bones need boron and selenium too so you could eat 6 prunes a day for boron and nuts to increase selenium if not allergic to nuts.
If calcium tests come back low, you need to discuss supplements with your doctor. If there is a family history of osteoporosis then discuss with the doctor as it could influence the kind of tests and supplements you need.
There is a calcium calculator on the Canadian Osteoprosis society website which will help you ensure that you are eating enough foods rich in calcium. If you can't eat enough foods rich in calcium each day then it will give you a guide to discuss with GP.
"you could eat 6 prunes a day for boron "
I hate prunes personally, but their mention always makes me chuckle. A lady in work told me that another word for prunes is "Missionaries" because they go into dark places and do good 
"and nuts to increase selenium if not allergic to nuts"
I'm only familiar with Brazil nuts being a good selenium source...and only one per day is needed. What other nuts are you thinking of as good selenium sources.......or any other good non-animal food sources of selenium?
Info on selenium and food content
If you are low in vitamin D then your body can't absorb calcium from your diet very well.
However, if you optimise your level of vitamin D it will increase your body's absorption of calcium from your diet.
If your vitamin D level is good but you still have low calcium then something else may be going on, but I'm not familiar with this scenario.
The reason everyone is telling you not to supplement calcium without very good reason is because it has a tendency to deposit itself in places you don't want it, for example in your arteries. Therefore, before supplementing calcium it is a very good idea to be sure that you actually need it by getting your vitamin D level tested and your calcium level tested.
Most people supplement calcium because they think it will be good for their bones and will help them to ward off osteoporosis, but there is far more to bones than just calcium.
"The reason everyone is telling you not to supplement calcium without very good reason is because it has a tendency to deposit itself in places you don't want it, for example in your arteries"
That's why I don't supplement calcium....concern that it will be deposited in coronary arteries and brain arteries. So to avoid that, I get calcium from food, and also take Vitamin K2, both MK-7 and MK-4. The best food source of MK-7 is natto, which is cooked, fermented soybeans. But I know that most persons with hypothyroid are concerned about soybeans.
I have to take Calcium and Vitamin D supplements because I have Osteopenia and am currently having to deal with yet another cracked/broken bone. If you do need Calcium then it really should only be under medical supervision. At least half an hour should be left after first taking Levothyroxine. A word of extra caution: if you are prescribed Calcium you may also be prescribed Alendronic Acid to aid absorption. As I have discovered to my cost a side effect can be Osteonecrosis.
Calcium should be at least four hours apart from taking Levothyroxine, including calcium rich foods
See point 8 - any foods to avoid
beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...
Thanks for that - I didn't know. I'll have to change my regime.
No - neither Calcium nor Vitamin D should be taken within 4 hours of Levothyroxine.
No meds nor other supplements should be taken within 2 hours and no food or drink (other than water) within one hour.
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply, very informative as usual from this group. My calcium and vitamin D levels are good so I won’t be supplementing as I don’t have any family history of osteoporosis 😃
Phew! That's good to hear. 😊 x 🐥
Two years ago your vitamin results showed high ferritin. Was high ferritin ever investigated ? Or was high ferritin due to iron supplements?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
High ferritin can indicate hemochromatosis. More common with Hashimoto's
redriverhealthandwellness.c...
functionalhealthnews.com/20...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/182...
Suggest you retest vitamins including vitamin D and ferritin
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
As you are also on T3, make sure to take last dose of T3 approx 12 hours prior to test
Hi Thanks slow dragon all blood tests show good levels , recent problems with thyroid levels but feel clinically back to normal now and due to have re Test in next couple of weeks.
Make sure they retest ferritin
"Make sure they retest ferritin"
Appreciate if you would explain the importance of testing ferritin for those who are hypothyroid; and what action u recommend based on the result of the ferritin test. Thanks
Calcium is very tricky! The most widely available mineral in food supply. Try to get it from food. More importantly for bones are: Mg, D, C, K2, and other trace minerals. Good luck
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