So I’ve retested everything through Medichecks after supplementing since April and although my Ferritin and Vitamin D levels have improved, I am really disappointed to find that my Folate and Vitamin B12 levels are now worse.
April
Ferritin 52.5ug/L (13-150)
Folate 14.12ug/L (>3.89)
Vit B12 90.7pmol/L (37.5-188)
Vit D 43.7nmol/L (50-175)
Now
Ferritin 56.8ug/L (13-150)
Folate 5.63ug/L (>3.89)
Vit B12 66.8pmol/L (37.5-188)
Vit D 64.5nmol/L (50-175)
I’m still not on any medication as the GP I saw wasn’t prepared to prescribe anything due to my low morning cortisol levels. However I have been referred to an endo but my first appointment isn’t until the beginning of October.
So in the meantime do I carry on taking the supplements or stop until I’ve seen the endo?
Thanks
Written by
hollyblue
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Exactly what supplements are you taking? If you've been supplementing since April - 4 months - the improvement is rather poor. I went from severely Vit D deficient at 15 to 202 in 2.5 months, similar time scale to raise folate from bottom of range to top of range.
Can you post the actual supplements (brands) and doses that you are taking and I'll see if I can suggest anything that might improve your levels.
First thing to say is, after looking at your results in your first post on the forum, I see that you have Hashi's. Hashi's causes gut and absorption problems and I wonder if this has some bearing on why your nutrient levels aren't responding very well to supplements. SlowDragon has links about gut/absorption problems which she may pop along and comment about.
Reference range: >70*; * between 25-70 referred for MMA
However, as it was 90.7 previously it may not necessarily be that.
Igennus Super B 1 x tablet only gives 200mcg methylfolate and 450mcg B12. It would be a good idea to increase to 2 x tablets (their recommended dose) and see if that makes any difference. It might also be worth considering a sublingual methylcobalamin lozenge - this is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity and so bypasses the stomach to give better absorption. You could use just one bottle of 1000mcg dose along with the B Complex and see if it helps.
Vit D April: 43.7nmol/L (50-175) Now: 64.5nmol/L (50-175) = 25.8ng/ml
DLUX 3000 1 spray LifeExtension Super K 1 tablet Igennus Triple Magnesium Complex 3 tablets
This is slowly improving but personally I would increase this.
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 a level of 25ng/ml, the Vit D Council suggests supplementing with 3,700iu D3 daily. If you have the 3000iu D3 spray where 1 x spray delivers 3000iu D3, then I would suggest taking 3000iu Monday-Friday and 6000iu on Saturdays and Sundays.
What are you doing to increase your ferritin level? Tablets take a long time and if trying to increase it by eating liver then I raised mine by eating 140grams of liver per week - you can go to a maximum of 200g but no more due to it's high Vit A content. As well as a meal of liver, you can add liver to casseroles, curries, spaghetti bolognese, cottage pie, etc.
Thanks SeasideSusie, I'll increase supplementation as you've suggested.
As for ferritin I've incorporated more protein into my diet and I have been alternating between organic dark chocolate and organic cocoa powder with coconut milk everyday.
Although I'm reluctant I'll incorporate liver into my diet if that's what it'll take to increase my ferritin levels
As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet?
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
If not already strictly gluten free
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
has been following the amounts of vitamin d their participants take daily and recording the actual 25(OH)D levels they attain and maintain. There are some charts in their resources showing Serum levels acheived following different daily intakes.
If you download the charts you can see it generally takes 100 iu daily for each kilogram of bodyweight to reach 125nmol/ from 62nmol/l.
So in general it will take about 7000iu daily or around 10 x 5000iu softgels or 16 x 3000 iu sprays spread evenly through the week.
Increasing magnesium intake generally improves the retention and activation of vitamin d3 and this better enables your immune function to regulate the pathogens like H Pylori that are currently making you iron deficient.
Rather than vitamin K1 (which increases clotting, and is ill-advised if you are on anticoagulation medication) I take vitamin K2 MK7 with my Vitamin D, which helps the Vitamin D move dietary calcium into your bones and teeth instead of depositing calcium into your soft tissues (such as arteries). healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
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