I know this question has been addressed in past replies, but I am still a little unclear about B12’s effect on thyroid levels. If one’s B12 is below 500, does that mean that one’s thyroid supplementation will work less well? I have kind of a love/hate relationship with B12 as it seems to overstimulate me and cause insomnia. I also have ms and tend to be sensitive to a variety of supplements. I take 1000 mcg of sublingual methylcobalamin.
Thanks!
Yes you need B12, Vit D, folate and ferritin to be at good levels for thyroid hormones to work efficiently.Also a deficiency in B12 or other vitamins and elements such as magnesium can cause symptoms. It is often difficult to tell therefore if symptoms are being caused by a deficiency in vitamins etc or a lack of thyroid hormones.
The requirement for B12 is not for thyroid hormones. It is an essential hormone, in itself - especially if a member has Pernicious Anaemia (I have P.A. also). It makes changes in stomach that may not enable our stomach to absorb B12.
Donna5658,
There is no direct link between VitB12 & thyroid hormone but plenty of indirect connections as to why we may become VitB12 deficient.
We need gastric acid & enzymes to detach the B12 from the protein it is bound to when it enters the stomach, but this is very often deficient due to inadequate thyroid hormones.
We also need intrinsic factor produced by the parietal cells to transport VitB12 via pancreatic enzymes to the small intestine, and protect it from bacterial degradation but it is often not present in adequate amounts, or bacterial infections such as SIBO are prolific.
It is then carried to the ileum where enterocytes have surface receptors but these are often damaged or the components required for good uptake such as calcium aren’t adequate or mechanisms aren’t working right.
VitB12 deficiency is common (even aside from thyroid problems although these compound it) and especially in people with autoimmune disease, ie pernicious anaemia, ileum disease (Crohns).
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