Research on vitamins, folate and ferritin levels pls

[Kermit79]

Does anyone have any good research about vitamin, ferritin and folate levels I can shove in my GPs face.... I’m trying to get supplements prescribed but because I’m in range all be it very near the bottom on all of them they won’t budge. Not interested in how I feel or my T3 being under range.. one battle after another at the moment

[SlowDragon Administrator]

NHS will only test for and treat deficiencies

They are not obligated to treat if results are within range

What are your most recent results and ranges

If results are within range it’s down to you to self supplement to improve to optimal levels

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks someone else has told me the GP should supplement as they are all low end of normal range. I’m happy to supplement myself just trying to find either a single one that’s has enough of everything or supplement individually

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

We always recommend supplementing separately

Multivitamins are never recommended on here

What are your most recent results?

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Last results were

ferritin 33 (23-300)

B12 221 (187-883)

Vit D 70 (50-120) I do take daily spray

Folate 5.6 (2.7-15)

My T3 is 3.4 (3.8-6.0) but apparently that doesn’t matter!

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

So all vitamins are too low.....because Ft3 is too low

And conversion of levothyroxine (Ft4) to Ft3 is poor because vitamin levels are too low

Improving low vitamin levels by supplementing should improve conversion levels

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

B12 221 (187-883)

Folate 5.6 (2.7-15)

Both far too low

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)

Or Thorne Basic B is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

With such low B12 result taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B12 sublingual lozenges

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/vitamins/vit...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

ferritin 33 (23-300)

You need full iron panel test for anaemia

If GP won’t do this you can test via Medichecks

Low iron and/or low ferritin frequently linked to hair loss

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

And see last reply here from Humanbean

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Post with good reply from Seasidesusie showing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow thank you. Can I take you to see my GP with me 😂 I can’t thank you enough and will get those supplements

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

Only add one supplement at a time

Then wait 2 weeks to assess any changes

You’re already taking vitamin D spray - does it include K2

Perhaps add vitamin B complex next

Then magnesium

Then B12

Calm vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use. Good if you tend to suffer constipation. Best start on low dose as too much can cause diarrhoea!

Magnesium must be four hours away from levothyroxine. Best taken afternoon or evening

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

Vit D 70 (50-120) I do take daily spray

How much vitamin D are you taking?

Is level still going up?

Vitamin D

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average

Calculator for working out dose you may need to bring level to 40ng/ml = 100nmol

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Taking too much vitamin D is not a good idea

chriskresser.com/vitamin-d-...

With your Vit D, are you also taking it's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Just looking at getting Magnesium I do have weekly baths in magnesium salts and have a spray I use a couple of times a week would I still need an oral supplement? Don’t want to take too much

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

Trial and error

Testing is not very accurate

Gluten free diet is low in magnesium

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Results from previous post

Were these tests done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?

On 125mcg

TSH 0.08 range 0.35-3.5.

T4 13.8 range 7.5-21.1

T3 3.4 range 3.8-6.

Ft4 is only 46% through range

Ft3 below range

On 125/150

TSH 0.03

T4 15.5

T3 3.9.

Presumably same ranges ?

Ft4 67% through range

Ft3 scrapped in at 4.5% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

You have seriously terrible conversion

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand

Do you take levothyroxine in morning or at bedtime

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah as soon as I was advised what to do prior to blood test I wrote it all down and stick to it. I don’t always get the same brand currently my 100mcg dose is mercury pharma and my 25mcg dose is wockhardt. I always take it first thing in the morning.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

Might be better taken at bedtime

Trial and error what works best for you

[Kermit79 in reply to SlowDragon]

Would I then skip my night dose if I have a blood test the next morning?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kermit79]

No ....

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning,

delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning.

Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning.

Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal