Neutrophils

[Cazza83]

Hi there!!

Does anyone know how relevant neutrophils are in regards to an ultrasound thyroid referral? On my my referral the doctor has written that my neutrophils are low at 1.7 (not sure of range). Just wondered why it was relevant as my ultrasound is for a suspected mediastinal goitre based on a chest xray that I've had done

Thanks 😁

[MaisieGray]

Well, one connection is that hyperthyroidism can cause a reduction in the white blood cell count, and also cause a goitre of course, so he's probably just providing all relevant or associated information. Do you have a thyroid diagnosis other than the goitre itself?

[Cazza83 in reply to MaisieGray]

I have had blood tests and been told that there aren't any issues with thyroid in regards to results. Doctor has written "TFT are normal" on my referral? Thanks for the info 😁

[HLAB35]

Zinc deficiency can lead to low neutrophils... *It can also lead to problems with testosterone, serotonin and adrenal hormone production.

*Edit... I was being daft and got that backwards wrt. neutrophils. A low WBC can result from long term zinc deficiency, but in tests on rats an induced zinc deficiency can raise rather than lower neutrophils, possibly due to a change in the copper/zinc ratio?

[Cazza83 in reply to HLAB35]

Thanks for the info. I'll make sure I ask about these when I see my gp 👍

[HLAB35 in reply to Cazza83]

ahappylife is correct. You may have a copper deficiency.... not zinc for neutrophils to be reduced. Eating liver or dark chocolate will restore copper levels if they are low.

[ahappylife]

My research suggests Copper deficiency. My neutrophils level is 1.9. I supplemented Zinc for 2 years which has caused a copper deficiency. There is a connection between hyperthyroidism and copper deficiency.

[HLAB35 in reply to ahappylife]

You're right! I know zinc is also important for immunity, so it must require a careful balancing act to raise zinc and copper simultaneously. Copper toxicity is said to have similar symptoms to copper deficiency which is also confusing. Liver is good for copper ( and iron) and it may explain why my wbc is good despite supplementing zinc.

[vickilou in reply to HLAB35]

This is the first time I have heard of this, I was diagnosed with a neutrophils problem 2years ago , mine are very low. mine go up and down like a yo yo, after many blood tests I was told I suffer from neutropenia, and the only cause they could find was my Under Active thyroid, this is the first time I have heard of a connection between zinc and copper deficiencies. Can anyone please elaborate.

[HLAB35 in reply to vickilou]

I am not a haematologist, but have read on Dr Sarah Myhill's website ( very useful resource) about interpreting bloods. ahappylife has gone one step further and found (I checked and they were right) that although low Zinc can lead to low wbc, high zinc (due to over supplementation) can also lower neutrophils as zinc blocks copper absorption. This can be further interpreted as another set of minerals that those of us who have low t3 find tricky to absorb... probably due to low stomach acid. I personally would not supplement copper unless I were taking large doses of zinc long term, because copper toxicity is bad. However, it just goes to show how important it is not to get carried away with one kind of supplement to the exclusion of others e.g Magnesium and Calcium / vitamin d have a similar dynamic.

[Cazza83]

Thanks for your replies 😁 I'll look into that then 👍try some dark chocolate lol

[vickilou]

Me too, any excuse to eat chocolate. But joking aside thanks,