medichecks results 2nd post with vitamins

[Kateefc]

All good (I do b12 injections) bar the high iron which I can’t fathom either as not a big meat eater

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kateefc

They're all within range but they're not all good I'm afraid.

Folate 4.25 is only just over the low limit. If there was a proper range with both upper and lower limits then it's recommended that folate is at least half way through range. When there is just >3.89 (or similar) then it's better to be in double figures.

As you are having B12 injections, are you also supplementing with a good B Complex to balance all the B vitamins? If not then it's recommended to and good brands recommended here are Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B. Whichever brand you choose, look for "bioactive" or "bioavailable" and make sure it contains methylfolate not folic acid.

When taking a B Complex containing Biotin (B7) or Biotin as a stand alone supplement, we should leave this off for 7 days before any blood tests as it gives false results if Biotin is also used in the testing procedure (which most labs use).

Vit D 74.9nmol/L = 29.96ng/ml

This is on the low side. 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, based on the Vit D Council's suggestions you could supplement with 3,700iu D3 daily (nearest is 4,000iu)

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

Retest after 3 months.

When Hashi's is present best absorption may be obtained from an oral spray (eg BetterYou). Some Hashi's patients have found that an oil based softgel (eg Doctor's Best) also gives good absorption. Avoid tablets and capsules.

When 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/

Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but 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...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

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

Your ferritin is over range and this can suggest inflammation or infection. Your Hashi's may possibly be the cause of this. Or did you eat high iron food (eg liver, liver pate, black pudding) or take iron tablets in the week before the test?

[Kateefc in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much or all this information, I’ll order the vitamins now.

No high iron food (never eat the ones you mentioned)

I haven’t had any red meat for about 3 months & never taken iron tablets.

I only eat red meat now & again, I eat chicken maybe twice a week, salmon, prawns, cod, variety of veggies, rice, potatoes, salad, pasta every now & again, Wholemeal bread once or twice a week...

pretty healthy balanced diet trying to further cut down on animal products

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kateefc]

Don't start all supplements at once. Start with one, give it a week or two and if no adverse reaction then add the next one. Again, wait a week or two and if no adverse reaction add the next one. Continue like this. If you do have any adverse reaction then you will know what caused it.

[Kateefc in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh ok. I’ll start with folate then then the b complex to help the b12 injections along followed by the other 2. Thanks again x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kateefc]

You don't need folate and a B Complex. The B Complex will contain methylfolate, if you take both you'll be taking too much folate and wasting your money. You just need the B Complex. Thorne Basic B contains 400mcg methylfolate at the recommended dose of 1 capsule, that will be enough to raise your folate level.

[Kateefc in reply to SeasideSusie]

Dear me...if I had a brain ... 🥴 I used to!

Ta

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kateefc]

Slightly high ferritin is pretty common with Hashimoto's

Inflammation from hashi can cause high ferritin

You don't necessarily have high iron with high ferritin.

You can have normal or low iron with high ferritin

You could ask GP to do full iron panel to check iron levels

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to SlowDragon]

Can you please explain the difference between high/low iron and ferritin, Slow Dragon?

The difference it makes to how you feel as well as the difference to your health.

I frequently have very low ferritin (recent lowest was 9, where the recommended minimum level is in the 20s) and feel horrendous when it’s like this. My doctors rarely if ever test for HB levels so I wouldn’t even know why my HB levels are.

My son (he often has raised TSH but isn’t Hashi’s yet) v often has low ferritin but only rarely has low HB. His specialist told me not to “Chase his ferritin result”, ie. not to give him ferritin supplements any more.

Can you elucidate please?

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

I mean I wouldn’t know “what” my HB levels are of course.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

You can do full iron panel via Medichecks or Blue Horizon

Links about iron and ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post about iron supplements

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Post about high ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin and iron

racgp.org.au/afp/2012/decem...

[Kateefc in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I will do.

Medichecks dr said; Your iron stores are slightly high. This is likely to be due to a high dietary intake of iron, or taking iron supplements. If you are taking supplements I recommend decreasing your intake, but at this level there is no cause for concern.

Which is why I’m surprised by it as I’ve no way had a large intake of iron.

I do have braces on my teeth & use le creuset enamelled cast iron pans.. pans used maybe x3 a week...could it be that?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kateefc]

I have Hashimoto's and always have high ferritin. I do eat meat....but not much

Never taken iron supplements

I do supplement vitamin C which might increase iron absorption

Links in reply above about lots of different iron and ferritin scenarios

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Selenium supplements may help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3