Folate levels...and latest test results

[Molly161018]

Does anyone out there know how long it would take for folate levels to increase when taking a supplement??

I have been taking a vit b supplement which contains folate for 4 months but I only took one tablet and although my levels are now in range they're still low, and the Medichecks Dr report suggests they should be higher in that we'd like to try for a baby soon.

Also, below are my complete results... nothing particularly surprising to me here, but any comments appreciated! 🤗

Vit D I seem to be taking too much so will reduce this.

TSH is "too low" and T4 is obviously just out of range ("too high") but as far as I'm concerned it's not an issue as my T3 isn't amazing and I certainly don't have any hyper symptoms and I am feeling ok generally.

I don't think the high T4 and low TSH would effect conception or a baby negatively would they in that they're not miles out...?

Inflammation: CRP HS 1.47 mg/L (< 5)

Ferritin: 118 ug/L (13 - 150)

Folate - Serum: 4.71 ug/L (> 3.89)

Vitamin B12 - Active: 118.000 pmol/L (Range: > 37.5)

Vitamin D: >250 nmol/L (50 - 175) - need to reduce dose

TSH: 0.203 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3: 4 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine: 23.400 pmol/L (12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies: 20.800 kIU/L (< 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: 54.6 kIU/L (< 34)

And one last question...if I spoke to my Dr about trying for a baby, should he refer me to an endo automatically...?

Any advice/comments would be gladly received! 😁

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Molly161018

I raised my folate from very low in range to top of range in 2.5 months by taking 1 x Thorne Basic B daily which contains the bioavailable form - methylfolate - 400mcg:

6.9 (4.6-18.7) = 16.31% through range on 11/5/15

42.32 (10-42.4) = 99.75% through range on 1/9/15

Same lab (Blue Horizon), they just changed their range hence working out the percentage.

Vitamin D: >250 nmol/L (50 - 175) - need to reduce dose

Vit D I seem to be taking too much so will reduce this.

That doesn't mean to reduce your dose, that means reduce your level. Over 225nmol/L is risk of toxicity.

What was your level when you started supplementing and how much D3 have you been taking?

I would stop your D3 supplement altogether for 3 months then retest. At the moment you don't have an accurate reading because their machine doesn't measure any higher than 250. Get a new test in June and see what your level is then, you may or may not need to supplement at that time.

Active B12 and Ferritin are OK. Do you supplement iron? If so then drop back a bit, ferritin is recommended to be half way through range, so about 82-ish with that range. However, you do have Hashi's so that could be the cause of the raised ferritin as raised ferritin can be due to inflammation and Hashi's can be the cause of that.

TSH: 0.203 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3: 4 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine: 23.400 pmol/L (12 - 22)

These results show poor conversion of T4 to T3. You have a very high FT4 (114% of range) to produce a measly level of T3 4 (3.1-6.8) = 24.32% of range.

[Molly161018 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie, I have been taking igennus vit b complex which contains 400mcg of methylfolate per tablet. The dose is 1-2 tablets so I guess I should be taking two. But when I've used up this batch perhaps it will be worth taking the ones you did in case they're better...or could it just be that I don't absorb it well??

Vitamin D I started taking in 2017 when it was down at 39. It has been at normal levels until now - 4 months ago it was fairly high in the range so I reduced my dose then. Seems a bit strange as it's winter...I have been on a high fat/low carb diet...I wonder if more fat means it's absorbing better than before, as it's a fat soluble vitamin isn't it? Oh and also...I have been taking vit k2 along with it the past few months as recommended on here! That's probably helping absorption too!

No I don't supplement iron - again it was low in the range four months ago...?!

Re the conversion of T4 to T3 I'm not surprised...I never have been a good converter but then my test results in October showed perfect levels!!! For the first time ever...so I'm not very surprised tbh!!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Molly161018]

I have been taking igennus vit b complex which contains 400mcg of methylfolate per tablet. The dose is 1-2 tablets so I guess I should be taking two. But when I've used up this batch perhaps it will be worth taking the ones you did in case they're better...or could it just be that I don't absorb it well??

Different brands suit different people. I changed from Thorne to a Wholefood B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate. My level dropped. I've gone back to Thorne but wont be retesting for a few months yet, I test all vitamins once a year, Vit D twice a year.

Vitamin D I started taking in 2017 when it was down at 39. It has been at normal levels until now - 4 months ago it was fairly high in the range so I reduced my dose then.

Were you testing twice a year as always advised? In this previous thread of yours:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your Vit D level at that time was 157nmol/L and I responded with:

I would suggest you reduce your D3 to a maintenance dose which you have to find by trial and error. Continuing with 5000iu daily may take your level too high and excess D3 gets stored and can lead to toxicity. Maybe reduce to 2000iu D3 daily (or average it out over the week) and retest in 3 months to see if you are maintaining your current level with that dose.

How much did you reduce your dose to?

No I don't supplement iron - again it was low in the range four months ago...?!

Then it's possible that it can be due to inflammation caused by Hashi's although your CRP isn't raised and this is another inflammation marker.

Perhaps you ate high iron foods in the days before the test?

[Molly161018 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Re vitamin D, I have generally only tested annually, when I did a private full thyroid test. I wasn't aware that it should be twice a year. I've done more tests the last year as I've had a lot of thyroid problems again!

Yes I did reduce the dose to 2000 as you recommended before. I can't make out why it has gone up again.

I don't have any symptoms of toxicity (thanks for the links below) but I will stop taking it completely and retest in a few months...

Thanks for your valuable advice 😁

[Molly161018 in reply to SeasideSusie]

What can vitamin D toxicity do to you?! 🤔

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Molly161018]

Google is your friend

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you consider getting DiO2 gene test

If you test positive this is good “proof” you need the addition of small dose of T3

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/D...

[Molly161018 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks slowdragon! I will look into this - I haven't really understood the point of this in the past...but if it proves the need of T3 it would be worth it!

As I mentioned in my reply to seaside Susie, my conversion levels in October were spot on, for the first time ever...this did surprise me so its not surprising that they're off again now!!

Life is a rollercoaster...!!

[fibrolinda]

When first using igneous super b I only took one a day and my folate levels dropped from mid range to near bottom. Switched to two a day and when next tested after four months Level was nicely back to mid range. Many are fine on one a day but I need two.

[Molly161018 in reply to fibrolinda]

Thanks Linda thats encouraging! One a day definitely has increased my levels, so two should hopefully take it up again 😁