Vitamins which ones to take and when?

[bluejoppo]

So I was diagnosed with hashimotos in feb, gp gave me selenium trial pack to take and also my 100mcg thyroxine. I take my thyroxine first thing with water and wait normal 40-60 mind before coffee or eating. I've since read up that zinc is also important and was wondering if I should add that to the selenium and b12 that I take around lunchtime.

I'm due back in a few weeks for repeat bloods. I've not had vitamins checked, doesn't seem to be something they do here but I do think the selenium is helping and b12, I've actually felt more normal this last week, had energy to do stuff around the house and cook as well as working and looking after kids etc.

So do I add some zinc and if so what's the recommended dosage?

[Mary-intussuception]

You really need to have Vitamin D tested, also B12, B9 (Folate ) and Ferritin. I would stop taking B12 until you've had it tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mary-intussuception]

It takes about 4 months for B12 levels to drop after stopping supplementing

Probably not realistic to do that

[silverfox7]

Although no antibodies selenium was the first thing I was told to take to help my thyroid but I was told I must also take since as they work together. My doctorctested me forczinc and I was deficient. Can't tell you the dose as not at home at the moment though, sorry!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Ask GP to test zinc too

[HLAB35]

Hi there, well, I am impressed your GP knows about Selenium and Zinc as many don't... it facilitates conversion to T3.

Low Zinc can be due to a number of things

a) Recent infections

b) Low stomach acid

c) Low protein diets

d) Pyroluria - strongly recommend you look this one up.. as it is an 'incurable' cause of zinc and b6 deficiency, but supplementing prevents the symptoms. It is a surprisingly common problem that may be a factor involved in many family health issues (it is genetic and whole families can have this problem but manifest in different ways) including bipolar, add, autism, alcoholism, peripheral neuropathy etc. and means that too much zinc and b6 gets pee'd out. Simple solution is to take zinc and active b6 which is called p5p.

I always take zinc in the evening 30mg which is the amount and the timing that was recommended by Dr Myhill on her website at one time. I also take p5p and Magnesium at this time.

B12 is a bit too much of a waking up kind of supplement rather than a chilling out one like p5p, so lunchtime makes sense. I take selenium in the morning as well (apparently it is better to take when having fatty food).

[Newmummy82]

Hi, I started taking a selenium and zinc combined tablet which I got from holland and Barrett in January and feel much better. I paid for a private medichecks test which showed my vit d was very low and my b12 was on the low side too so started on vit d3 and a b12 supplement at the same time. I also take a magnesium supplement and a high quality cod liver oil and turmeric which is good for reducing inflammation. I think all of these generally contribute to me feeling better and having more energy.

[bluejoppo]

Thanks all, think I'll buy some and see how I get on.

[vocalEK]

There's a nice list within this item: thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...