B vitamins query

[Noelnoel]

Somebody mentioned Marmite for B vitamins; is the B9 in it the best form? I e , folate, as opposed to folic acid?

[helvella Administrator]

An 8 gram portion (which always seems quite a lot to me! and I like a good dollop on toast) contains 120 micrograms of folic acid.

I would not be concerned at all about that much folic acid. After all, standard daily supplementation is usually 400 micrograms. If you need supplementation, you'll need something else as well and can choose whatever form you like. If you don't need supplementation, it is unlikely to have much effect either way.

(Although the folic acid form might have issues in larger doses, I am not convinced that smaller doses are a problem, at least for most of us.)

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella

So is the B9 in Marmite, folic acid or folate? I believe folic acid is the synthetic form of B9 and that it's preferable to take the natural form, folate but do correct me if I'm wrong

[helvella Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

I did write:

120 micrograms of folic acid.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Sorry Helvetia, I don’t follow. Yes, you wrote 120mcg. Is there a problem with what you wrote?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

In rtesponse, you then asked:

So is the B9 in Marmite, folic acid or folate?

Which I'd already stated!

It is folic acid.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

oh dear, what a muddle I’m in. It must be the “brain fog” - that so many of you mention - setting in!

[Noelnoel]

Interesting Scrumbler that it didn't help your folate levels. I wonder why? It's quite tricky navigating all the available advice, especially when so much of it is conflicting or contradictory

[Noelnoel]

No, I’ll be ordering some private tests and that will be on the list

[helvella Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

Make sure you get B12 tested as well. (Preferably Active B12 but even serum B12 gives some idea.)

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella. B12 is 574, so no concerns there I don’t think

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Medichecks is Active B12 test

Many hashimoto’s patients need Folate Not folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[helvella Administrator]

This link is pretty darned good - provided your brain is working:

B12 Deficiency and Folate

Folate is the term used for many similar molecules, all of which are essential for the production and control of DNA. They are important for the production of the bases that make up the ‘code’of DNA and RNA and for the production of S-adenosyl methionine(SAMe) which is important for switching genes on and off via methylation.

Much more here:

b12science.com/B12Science/D...

[Noelnoel]

Thank you for that

I don’t necessarily think my folate is low, it’s just that as far as I can recollect, I’ve never had it tested. I’m sort of hoping to find that it is though because that might explain a few things. If that’s the case then I can easily rectify it as there are only so many folate-rich foods one can eat!

[helvella Administrator]

You are right that folate (in the form of folic acid) is widely added to flour, hence baked goods. But not in the UK.

I think the consultation process considering whether or not to do so is still (at least theoretically) in process. I can't see it being a priority at present.

gov.uk/government/consultat...

I wouldn't want people in the UK thinking it is supplemented if it isn't.

[Noelnoel]

Laughed out loud to the cabbage comment. A couple of years ago, I ate cabbage with everything. I got so bloated and gassy that I had to depart the marital bed for a few days

[helvella Administrator]

I don't think there is anything to stop companies putting folic acid into baked goods - and I suspect that many which are imported do contain added folic acid!

It is next to impossible for us to work out how much folic acid/folate we are receiving in our diets unless we put in a considerable effort - and believe every word.

[Noelnoel]

Yes, I realise that. It's just that we'd grown our own and they had to be eaten