Supplements?

[alikeegs]

Hi folks, I have been considering trying thyroid supplements for energy. Do any of you have experience in this area? I’m 40, on 50mg of Levo for almost 2 years and all bloods come back acceptable.

[greygoose]

Do you mean the sort of supplement that calls itself a 'thyroid support' supplement? If so, avoid them like the plague. They usually contains things like iodine and calcium - which you shouldn't take unless you've been tested and found deficient - and adaptogens (ashwagandha, ginseng, etc.) which you shouldn't take without knowing your cortisol levels. They're just glorified mult-vits, and all mult-vits should be avoided.

all bloods come back acceptable

What is acceptable for a doctor, is rarely acceptable for a patient. Do you get copies of your results, with the actual numbers: results AND ranges? If so, post them here and let's have a look. Sounds like you're under-medicated if you think you need that sort of supplement.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

Forgot to add, the best thing you can do is get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested; post the results and ranges on here; and people here will tell you if you need to supplement anything and how to do it. But, don't take any sort of multi-vit. Nothing will help you unless you need it - more is not better, and could be dangerous.

[Undefeated75 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry to jump on this post, but why should multivitamins be avoided please?

I'm looking at ways to help with my symptoms and was considering taking these to boost my diet? Thanks 😊

[greygoose in reply to Undefeated75]

You shouldn't be taking a multivitamin anyway for all sorts of reasons.

* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.

* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.

* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.

* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc. This is especially true of supermarket multis.

* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.

* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.

* Most supplements should be taken at least two hours away from thyroid hormone, but some - iron, vit D, magnesium and calcium (should you really need to take it) should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone.

* The magnesium you take - and just about everybody need to take it - should be chosen according to what you want it to do:

Magnesium citrate: mild laxative, best for constipation.

Magnesium taurate: best for cardiovascular health.

Magnesium malate: best for fatigue – helps make ATP energy.

Magnesium glycinate: most bioavailable and absorbable form, non-laxative.

Magnesium chloride: for detoxing the cells and tissues, aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.

Magnesium carbonate: good for people suffering with indigestion and acid reflux as it contains antacid properties.

Worst forms of magnesium: oxide, sulphate, glutamate and aspartate.

With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results. A vitamin or a mineral is only going to help you if you need it, anyway. More of something you don’t need is not better, it's either pointless or even dangerous, as with iodine, calcium, iron or vit D.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to greygoose]

Fantastic advice GG 😊

(as usual)

[greygoose in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you, Fruity.

[Undefeated75 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you.

I was aware of some of your points but not all, so very helpful.

Just hope my gp is as helpful in terms of getting tested as without me pushing and demanding, they would never have tested my thyroid and found out I was hypo!

Thank you 😊

[greygoose in reply to Undefeated75]

Even if you do manage to get all your nutrients tested, they won't understand the results. They don't do nutrients in med school, so know nothing about them. They think that anything anywhere within the range has to be perfect. lol So, best to put your results and ranges on here so that people can help you sort them out.

[Hidden]

Hi there,

I am going to disagree with the consensus here and say that a qualified nutritional therapist can help you with this.

I agree that random/standard multivits may not help. But many of us are deficient in things like magensium and zinc these days, even with a super-nutritious diet, because our soil just doesn't contain the levels of nutrients that it used to. And there are multiple issues which can impact our absorption of nutrients.

I have been working with my therapist for 6 months and she has been outstanding. She knows more about thyroid function and its impact than my endo and GP combined, and I trust her implicitly. She has helped me with multiple issues. But it's not something I could have managed alone. I have paid for her knowledge and expertise. When it comes to supplements, brands really do make a difference. It's a largely unregulated industry so knowing what to look for and what to ask is important. Testing definitely helps to give you a picture of what's going on. And a qualified nutritionist will be able to interpret those results better than a GP could (in my experience), and they will know all of the issues with nutrients that disrupt medication and other nutrients, etc.

Ultimately though, she always bangs the drum having your nutrition from food spot on, along with movement, sleep and stress reduction. Supplements can help, but they can't replace those things.