Test results from Medichecks... thoughts on vit... - Thyroid UK

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Test results from Medichecks... thoughts on vitamin deficiencies with hashimoto's please, thanks.

AnnieOK profile image
6 Replies

Hi all

So on advice from the lovely people here when I posted my last test results I splashed out for a Medicheck test.

I know I have Hasmimoto's - (been diagnosed for just under 2 years, still feeling tired and lacking energy). Result below, thoughts much appreciated. Have an appointment with GP to discuss low B12 and folate:

Thyroid Hormones

TSH: 0.461 (range 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3: 4.75 pmol/L (range 3.1 - 6.8)

Free thyroxine (I think this is FT4): 18.1 pmo/L (range 12-22)

Autoimmunity

Thyroglobulin Antibodies: 89.100 kU/L (range: <115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: 56.3 klU/L (range: <34)

Vitamins

Folate - serum: 5.32 ug/L (range: >3.89)

Vitamin B12 - active: 25.500 pmo/L (range 37.5 - 188)

Vitamin D: 35.8 nmol/L (range 50 - 1750

Iron

Ferritin: 84.7 ug/L (range: 13 - 150)

Inflammation

CRP HS: 0.87 mg/L (range: <5)

Previous results: [FT4 17.2 - in range] [TSH: 0.19 - below range]

I think I'm OK to start self medicating with Vitamin D (Medichecks have given a recommended dosage), but a bit confused about B12 and tests the GP should / would do?

Thank you in advance.

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Any active B12 result under 70 is considered suspicious of B12 deficiency

Obviously your B12 is significantly below that

Folate is also low

Take these results to GP. You need full testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting on B12 injections

Do not supplement any B vitamins before being tested

Once you start on B12 injections you can improve low folate. Do not start any B vitamin supplements until 48 hours after first B12 injection

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be more beneficial than just folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Vitamin D, is low enough for GP to prescribe too. But you are likely better off self supplementing vitamin D mouth spray by Better You. This avoids poor gut function of Hashimoto's

Suggest you start with 2000iu daily, if this seems fine increase to 3000iu and retest in 2-3 months

vitamindtest.org.uk

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs.

Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

This article explains should discuss with specialists before taking any vitamin K if you take any blood thinning medication

drsinatra.com/vitamin-k2-su...

Vitamin D research and Hashimoto's

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

easy-immune-health.com/magn...

These Medichecks results UNDERLINE exactly why just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate

Ferritin is OK, but doesn't want to drop further

Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily vitamin C can help improve iron absorption

FERRITIN

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

AnnieOK profile image
AnnieOK in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you SlowDragon . So much info, will take my time and read through this.

Do you know if it is OK to take Levothyroxine and and Vit B/D supplements at same time or should I leave 4 hours between?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAnnieOK

Levothyroxine should ALWAYS be taken on its own

Four hours away from calcium rich foods too

See this in "what foods to avoid" in this NHS link

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Vitamin D mouth spray and B vitamins can be about an hour away as minimum. Longer ideally

Vitamin D you swallow should be taken with fat rich meal and at least four hours away from taking Levothyroxine

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Vitamin D: 35.8 nmol/L (range 50 - 175) = 14.32 ng/ml

What dose has Medichecks suggested?

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml).

To reach the recommended level from your current level, the Vit D Council suggests supplementing with 4,900iu D3 daily (nearest is 5,000iu)

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

Important to retest after 3 months so you can then work out what dose to change to.

Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).

AnnieOK profile image
AnnieOK in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you so much for advice.

FYI, Medichecks recommended a dose of 20-50 mcg (800 - 2000iu) for 12 weeks then retest... Which I think is considerably lower than your recommendation?...? I get confused by all the different units!

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toAnnieOK

Which I think is considerably lower than your recommendation

It's not my recommendation, it's what the Vit D Council suggests :)

And Medichecks doctors are exactly the same as NHS doctors, so we don't expect them to know about optimal nutrient levels.

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