Ferritin and B12

[Mike_79]

Hi all

Just wondering about my B12 and ferritin levels. Please could you have a look?

Should I be trying to get the ferritin higher in the range?

And, would I benefit from getting my B12 to a higher number, I notice this doesn't have a range?

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a month ago, I have spent a lot of time researching and got some great advice from this forum.

I feel like I have a long way to go, but, heading in the right direction. I just want to keep on top of everything on the vitamin side and get the best possible chance of a faster recovery.

I am aiming for around 4000 iu per day vitamin D, I am using a BetterYou spray with K2 and prescription capsules.

I also use BetterYou magnesium spray and I am regular with vit C.

I plan to get a thyroid test to include my T3 level and antibodies to gain a clearer picture of my situation.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

[Ania22]

Hi Mike,

I cannot see your test results. Could you enlarge it please?

[Mike_79 in reply to Ania22]

Hi Ania

Sorry about that, it didn't upload very well did it, it looks a bit clearer now.

Thanks for the heads up with thriva, it looks like a good deal.

[Ania22]

Try thriva for blood test.

They have a good offer for new customers. I cannot remember the code, google it....You will pay £30 less for your 1st order...google £30 off thriva new customers or smth like this.....

[SlowDragon Administrator]

B12 looks on low side. Under 500 can cause symptoms

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. Also contains B12

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. 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 Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

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...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/186...

There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms,

Ferritin looks pretty good at moment

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in levothyroxine

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Come back with new post once you get results

Low vitamin D and low B vitamins may be linked as explained here

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

[Mike_79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon, I'll aim to get my B12 higher with supplements. I appreciate the advice on B complex, it seems to be a bit if a minefield when buying vitamins.