Multivitamin dosages

[ChoH]

I have attached a picture of the multivitamin I take with the dosages of each item. Is this ok for my hypothyroidism condition ?

[shaws Administrator]

It is difficult to read this page.

We should only take vitamins/minerals if we have a deficiency because if we have a good diet it would provide us with the majority of vitamins/minerals.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ChoH

Multivitamins aren't recommended here, they tend to use the cheapest, wrong form and least absorbable active ingredients, often in amounts that wont help low levels, and generally include things we should test for and only supplement if found to be deficient or low. They also often include iron which affects absorption of everything else as iron needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements.

The following is a problem with your multi

* The Vit C will keep your body from absorbing the B12

* Vit K is Phytonadione which is K1 and the blood clotting form, the wrong form to include in a multi. This would be no good for people who are taking a blood thinner. The form needed when supplementing Vit D is K2 Menaquinone as this form directs the extra calcium from food that is absorbed when taking D3 to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems like calcification of arteries and kidney stones, etc.

* The amount of B6 per serving is too high at 50mg, the safe amount for regular use is said to be 10mg. It is also the pyridoxine form whereas it is said pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) is the better, activated form.

* Folate is folic acid and the better form is the biovailable methylfolate form.

* B12 is Cyanocobalamin and again the better form is the bioavailable Methylcobalamin form.

* It contains calcium, this needs to be tested before supplementing and only supplement if deficient.

* It contains iron, again needs to be tested and only supplemented if deficient, but it also affects the absorption of everything else.

* It contains iodine at the recommended daily intake. Iodine needs to be tested and only supplemented if found to be deficient. Iodine is easily available in food such as milk, yogurt, cod, haddock, scampi, and it's not common to be deficient in iodine in the UK. Iodine used to be used to treat hypERthyroidism so can make hypOthyroidism worse and it's not a good idea to take iodine when Hashi's is present.

* Magnesium is the Oxide form, the least absorbably of all the forms of magnesium and generally used as a laxative.

* Zinc is the Oxide form, the form used in nappy cream. Zinc and copper should be balanced, we Hypos tend to have one high and the other low, so we shouldn't supplement with zinc, it may already be high, so we should test.

The best place for your multi is the dustbin and just supplement what is needed.

[ChoH]

Thanks so much for the advice. I am vegetarian so hence I was told to take a supplement. I am also a small eater so don’t think I get enough nutrients from the food I eat. previously my iron and vitamin d levels were low. What would you recommend for vegetarians, especially with my thyroid issue? Any advice for a good supplement and vegetarian diet ?

[greygoose in reply to ChoH]

All multis are rubbish, doesn't matter if you're vegetarian or what, for the reasons Susie has given above - they're all pretty much the same. The best thing to do is get the individiual nutrients tested and just supplement what you need. You won't be deficient in all of them. But, pay special attention to iron and B12 because those are the ones that vegetarians are usually low in.

[ChoH in reply to greygoose]

Ok thank you. Maybe I will just stop taking vitamins from next month. My vitamin B12 was very high, and the other vitamins were all within range. I used to take iron tablets separately but feel they too heavy on my stomach and yea like you said iron also interacts with medications. Are there any natural products you would recommend? I was reading about a natural/Ayurvedic product called Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) which has several benefits, not sure whether to take it ? I know a lot of people use it especially during Covid, a lot of people in India have been taking it. Any information on that ?

[greygoose in reply to ChoH]

Not sure you can just stop taking them, because levels are likely to go down again. Especially as you are hypo and probably have low stomach acid, making it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients.

Were you taking vit C with your iron? Which medications are you talking about that they interact with? If you mean levo, you just have to take iron four hours away from your levo and you should be fine. What's more, you should have been taking your multi four hours away from levo, due to it's contents: iron, calcium, vit D and magnesium. If you didn't do that, then you've probably affected your absorption of levo.

the other vitamins were all within range

Just being 'within range' is not the same as optimal. I would suggest your post your results and ranges on here and let people comment on them.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. Adaptogens can have unpredictable effects on hormones - especially cortisol. So, one has to be very careful with them if one is hormonally challanged. It's not something I would take because, in general, I don't get on with adaptogens at all.

Are there any natural products you would recommend?

Depends on your definition of 'natural'. Vitamins and minerals are 'natural'. Thyroid hormones are 'natural'. If you're taking as much of those as you need, there's probably not much else you can do. Although you could try CBD oil. Depends what exactly you're trying to achieve.

[ChoH in reply to greygoose]

I wasn’t taking vitamin c with the iron but I have vitamin c in my normal multivitamin, I haven’t been taking the iron because my multivitamin also contains iron, so I also don’t want to overdo it with supplements. Ok thanks for the advice I was taking my multivitamin probably about 2 hours apart from the levo, but will change it to atleast 4 hours apart. I usually have tea early mornings so I will also trying to space my levo and tea time apart. Do probiotics have any affect on levothyroxine absorption?

I wanted to try take something natural to help with my cholesterol and hair fall, and I read about ashwagandha helping with a lot of things such as lowering glucose, cholesterol etc, helping with immunity. I also read about black seed oil having many benefits. But it’s difficult as there are so many products on the market and so many articles, it sometimes makes me more confused what to do. I don’t generally even like taking medications, but trying to find a way to help with these issues

[greygoose in reply to ChoH]

I wasn’t taking vitamin c with the iron but I have vitamin c in my normal multivitamin,

Doubt there was enough in a multi. And, also, they need to be taken at the same time, to protect the stomach and aid absorption.

I was taking my multivitamin probably about 2 hours apart from the levo, but will change it to atleast 4 hours apart.

So, you're going to continue taking the multi-vit despite everything that has been said about how it could be doing you more harm than good?

I usually have tea early mornings so I will also trying to space my levo and tea time apart.

Tea will not only affect the absorption of levo - should be at least an hour apart - but will also affect the absorption of iron.

Do probiotics have any affect on levothyroxine absorption?

I don't know, but all other medications and supplements should be at least two hours away from levo - certain, like iron need to be four hours away - to maximise absorption of levo.

I wanted to try take something natural to help with my cholesterol

Two things, here:

If your cholesterol is high, it's more than likely that your T3 is low. Low T3 causes high cholesterol, not diet. Raise your FT3 level and your cholesterol will fall.

High cholesterol is not a problem in and of itself - it is a symptom, not a disease. cholesterol does not cause heart attacks or strokes. In fact, those with high cholesterol tend to live longer. It's really not necessary to take anything to lower your cholesterol, just raise your FT3.

As for hair loss, that could be due to low nutrients - especially iron - but also due to low T3. Do you know what your FT3 level is?

I read about ashwagandha helping with a lot of things such as lowering glucose, cholesterol etc, helping with immunity. I also read about black seed oil having many benefits.

Yes, we can read a lot of things on internet but doesn't mean they're actually true. When you talk to people on here, very few have any benefits from ashwagandha - and as I said, it's not necessary to lower your cholesterol - doubt it really helps with immunity. And I've never seen anybody that has actually tried black seed oil getting any benefits. I tried it myself, but it didn't do anything. But, the only way to know if they're going to be of any help to you is to try them. Just be careful with adaptogens - might be best to test cortisol first. Don't think black seen oil can do any harm, though.

trying to find a way to help with these issues

The best thing you can to do help with your issues is to optimise your thyroid hormones and nutrients.

[ChoH in reply to greygoose]

I was thinking I should maybe not take my multivitamin everyday, will take it maybe 3 times a week, because as you said above you not sure if I should just stop taking it. Or I can stop and do bloods next month and see if there’s any effect if stopping them. I do try space my medication well apart, I take levo in the morning, and the probiotic about an hour or so after that. I haven’t been taking the iron as my iron levels have been normal. Will definitely get my FT3 levels measured as I feel the dr is failing to check this link. I have started taking the black seed oil capsule recently. Thank you for your advice, don’t think I will take the ashwagandha. Will work on optimizing my thyroid hormones and nutrients

[greygoose in reply to ChoH]

because as you said above you not sure if I should just stop taking it.

I did not say that. I said you should stop taking it, get your nutrients tested and supplement each one individually according to need. No way should you - or anyone else - be taking a multi-vitamin. They can be quite dangerous - at best they're just useless and a waste of money.

Admittedly I said this: Not sure you can just stop taking them, because levels are likely to go down again. But that was because I thought you meant you wouldn't take any more nutrients of any kind. I didn't mean you should continue the multi-vit!

Will definitely get my FT3 levels measured as I feel the dr is failing to check this link.

Doctors don't understand the importance of the FT3 test - or T3 itself. But, even if they do order it tested, the lab is more than likely going to ignore it. Money-saving - or rather penny-pinching and false economy. It's usually very difficult to get the FT3 tested on the NHS. A lot of people do private tests just to get their FT3 tested. But, if you want to know how well you convert, you need to test your FT4 and FT3 at the same time.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to ChoH]

I’ll just chip in regarding your question about probiotics affecting Levothyroxine.I started taking probiotics last year to try and help my digestive problems.

It was pretty miraculous, It got rid of my acid reflux and I managed to come off Omeprazole for good. My hiatus hernia feels a lot better as well.

I take two per day.

Apart from that I feel no different in myself regarding my Levo.