B6 test?

[pandacat2]

Hi there,

I have Hashimotos (diagnosed late 2019) and started taking B complex last year (I think around June) in the hope that it would help with my symptoms. With hindsight I think i was just undermedicated and being impatient. I've recently started experiencing symptoms which I think could indicate B6 toxicity, photosensitivity, brain fog and dizziness being the primary ones. My doctor did a B12 test which was very over range, which first made me think that the supplement might be the cause of my current problems and then I came across B6 toxicity.

1) Has anyone experienced this themselves?

2) Does anyone know where I can get a B6 test? Medichecks do it but it's £99!! My GP says there isn't lab locally (i'm in south London), where this can be tested.

It was the Igennus Super B-Complex with 20mg of B6/tablet - I was taking one a day. This isn't supposed to be a dangerous amount to take but obviously everyone is different.

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

pandacat2

It was the Igennus Super B-Complex with 20mg of B6/tablet - I was taking one a day.

The nutritional information on the Igennus bottle pertains to the suggested dose of 2 tablets. If taking just one tablet then you are taking 10mg B6 which is the amount stated to be safe for long term use.

[pandacat2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah ok, yes you are correct I misunderstood that. That's still a lot more than the NHS recommends. "1.2mg a day for women" nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-... However, I understand there is a difference between what is safe and recommended.

I can't really explain why my eyes would be so sensitive to light if it's not related to the b6. I am getting after images (like when you look at the sun) from not particularly bright light. It's making working at a screen rather difficult.

Be good to get B6 tested to see if it's the cause.

This is the B12 result that alerted me to the fact I probs didn't need to be supplementing it

B12 test result

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to pandacat2]

pandacat2

I had a Total B12 result similar to yours a while ago- 1,150ng/L - the Advanced Nurse Practioner at the surgery was concerned about it, however I wasn't (I had been supplementing with B Complex so it wasn't a baseline natural level which was 651ng/L a few years earlier). According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 ng/L or pg/ml to at least 450 ng/L or pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 ng/L or pg/ml."

A couple of months later I did the Active B12 test.

The Total B12 test measures both bound and unbound (free/active) B12. The Active B12 test measures just the free/active B12 that is available to the cells. We can have a good Total B12 level but a poor Active B12 level, so Active B12 is the better test.

My Active B12 was 162 (37.5-188) so I was happy with that.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

photosensitivity, brain fog and dizziness

Symptoms you describe could be due to being under medicated for thyroid

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you now on strictly gluten free diet

Please add most recent results for TSH, Ft4, Ft3, vitamin D and ferritin

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[pandacat2 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm was taking 125mg/150mg of Levothyroxine on alternate days at the time of testing. Brand is the same as always. I increased this myself to 150mg after these tests (approx 4 weeks ago), I've got a medicheck kit which includes T3 which I'll use in a couple of weeks.

Coeliac was negative 0.4 (0-7). I have recently started gluten free diet, only been following it strictly for two weeks after a bit of a hiccup.

TSH 0.91 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT4 17.3 (11.0-21.2)

FT3 - not checked this was an NHS test (only managed to convince them to check it once)

Vit D - 84 (50-150)

Ferritin - not checked by NHS. I last tested this myself in Oct 2020 and it was 67 (13-150)

Is sensitivity to light (eyes not skin) really a hypothyroid symptom? Its not one I've ever heard of and I didn't have it when i wasn't medicated and my levels were way worse. Started treatment with at TSH 28/FT4 10 in Sept 2019

All Thyroid related tests taken in the morning before medication, food and anything other than water yup.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pandacat2]

Sensitivity to light is often adrenal ....ie under medicated or poor conversion of thyroid hormones

[pandacat2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ah I didn't know that, so perhaps worth getting a Cortisol test? I'll revisit this post with the results of my Thyroid test in a few weeks if that's ok?

I'd still like to check my B6 level, do you know anywhere that does that?

Thanks for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pandacat2]

Wouldn’t bother

If your worried about taking vitamin B complex. Just stop and take separate folate and B12