Timing of Nutrient / Vitamin Regime for Hashimotos

[CBDB]

UPDATE Aug 2022 below post.

ORIGINAL POST April 2022:

Dear all,

I don’t post very often as my Hashimotos condition seems to be quite manageable. I feel good, but the only thing I would like to address is my inability to lose weight.

I am expecting a full blood result back any day, at which point I will consider wether I need to increase T3 levels.

But for now, I’m tweaking the time when I take my nutrients, as I realised there might still be a lot of room for improvement.

For info, I am:

- Gluten and dairy free, no soy,

- almost no chocolate (except Easter 🐣)

- No alcohol (since 20 years)

- Post menopausal

- I run 2-3 times per week (Japanese slow jogging)

- I indoor row 5 times per week

- Yoga, Strength and Flexibility workouts daily

- I regular do my own blood tests (medichecks and Vit D) and am due the results

I used to take most vitamins in the morning ca 1 hour after T3/4 but have started since 2 month to adhere to below schedule. I have started to use baskets (see pic) to keep me organised, but keeping all nutrients according to guidelines is becoming difficult (e.g. T3/4 away from all, Iron 2hrs away, some with food, etc)

Since this week I have started to (try to) divide my Lyothyrone T3 tablet to take half in the morning, half in evening, but it then clashes with the iron, which is supposed to be taken 2 hours away from anything.

So below is my current regime, which is a result from working with a nutritional therapist at the time, who had some Hypothyroid expertise.

But question to see if the community has some experience to share on this are:

? Where do people take their Iron so that it stays 2 hours apart ?

? Any tweaks that I might be able to do in below Vit regime?

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On Waking (ca 6 am)

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☆ Levothyroxine

☆ Liothyronine*

==================

With Breakfast Protein DF smoothie (ca 8am)

==================

☆ Omega 3

☆ Glutamine powder (mixed in smoothie)

☆ NAC

☆ Brewer’s Yeast or Vit B complex*

☆ (Vit C)*

☆ Vit D + K Spray

==================

An hour before dinner (ca 5:30pm)

==================

☆ Proteolytic Enzymes

☆ Selenium

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With Dinner (ca 7pm)

==================

☆ Magnesium

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Before Bed (ca 10:30 pm)

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☆ Iron

==================

==================

NOTES:

*) Liothyronine - if I divide this tablet into two doses, where can I squeeze in the second half?

*) VitC on non-running days with Breakfast, on running days, post run in water (ca 9am bef breakfast)

*) Brewer’s Yeast: I switch between Brewer’s yeast and VitB complex

So many thanks to this community. Although I do not post very often, I do read quite regularly and it is my first place to search for Hashimotos related questions. And I am immensely thankful that this space exists.

==============

UPDATE Aug 2022:

==============

I finally figured out my new  nutrient timing. So I will actually try splitting both T4/T3 as I’ve read that for some splitting both also makes a difference, and I’m more likely to remember. (Higher stakes! 😏).

I am also stopping Berberine, as it has not made a difference and opinion here is not unanimous and it seems to not tried and tested. (I am also not willing to go up from the one capsule I’ve been taken for 2 months)

So I’ll try the below and have set my alarm, discovering that you could also ”label” the IOS alarm (pic). I’ve tried to avoid any interactions between nutrients and hope I’ve caught them all, but it does get quite complicated.

NUTRIENT REGIME  (from Aug 2022):

(splitting my T4/T3, on waking and bedtime.) 

☆ 06:30 (1): 0.5 T3 & T4 

☆ 07:30 (2): W/ B’FAST: Omega3, NAC, VitB, L-Glutamine (in BFST Protein Smoothie) 

☆ 11:00 (3): AWAY FROM FOOD: Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes 

☆ 13:00 (4): W/ LUNCH: Selenium, VitC, Iron 

☆ 15:00 (5): AWAY FROM FOOD: Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes 

☆ 19:00 (6): W/ DINNER: Magnesium, VitD 

☆ 23:00 (7): 0.5 T3 & T4 

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

CBDB

You don't seem to have scheduled anything for lunchtime so you could move your iron to then, it will be 2 hours away from anything else, and try your second dose of liothyronine at bedtime. Some people say they sleep better with a bedtime dose so it's worth a try. If it doesn't work for you keep the iron at lunchtime, take liothyronine 2 hours after your evening meal and move magnesium to bedtime. Some people say liothyronine isn't as fussy as Levo so you may be OK not leaving a full 4 hours between lio and magnesium.

[CBDB in reply to SeasideSusie]

Great suggestion. So do I understand correctly the advice of Iron having to be taken alone with 2 hour window, this only refers to nutrients, not with lunch/meal itself? So basically I should be able to take the iron with a meal, or within an hour of a mid-day meal?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to CBDB]

I've seen it said that iron is better absorbed on an empty stomach. However, some people do experience an upset stomach when taking iron this way and it's then suggested that they take their iron tablets with food. So you could take it with or without food, see how it fits in with your regime.

The important thing to remember is that iron should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds (although as mentioned some people say that liothyronine is not such a fussy hormone as Levo) and 2 hours away from any other medication or supplements to avoid any possible problem with iron affecting their absorption.

[CBDB in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you! That insight helps a lot!!! Iron at lunchtime does sound like a good step I should try. Thank YOU! 😃

[CBDB]

UPDATE (MAY 2022)

(Thanks to brilliant advice from SeasideSusie )

(Further update thanks to brilliant advice from greygoose )

I will try this little tweak:

==================

On Waking (ca 6 am)

==================

☆ Levo thyroxine

☆ 0.5 of my Liothyronine

==================

With Breakfast Protein DF smoothie (ca 8am)

==================

☆ Omega 3

☆ Glutamine powder (mixed in smoothie)

☆ NAC

☆ Brewer’s Yeast or Vit B complex

(Delete: ☆ (Vit C) as reacts with VitB)

☆ Vit D + K Spray

==================

During/before/after Lunch

==================

☆ Iron*

☆ Vit C (added here)

==================

An hour before dinner (ca 5:30pm)

==================

☆ Proteolytic Enzymes

☆ Selenium

==================

With Dinner (ca 7pm)

==================

☆ Magnesium**

==================

Before Bed (ca 10:30 pm)

==================

☆ 0.5 of my Liothyronine

==================

==================

* Iron: will try taking iron with lunch, and alternatively can move to an hour before or after

** Magnesium (7pm) and last 0.5 Liothyronine (10:30pm) might be able to be switched if preferred.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to CBDB]

Just seen this, and agree with Greygoose. If the B12 in your B Complex is an important part of your supplement regime, then take the Vit C with the iron, this is probably better anyway as iron is absorbed better if taken with Vit C.

[greygoose]

With Breakfast Protein DF smoothie (ca 8am)

==================

☆ Omega 3

☆ Glutamine powder (mixed in smoothie)

☆ NAC

☆ Brewer’s Yeast or Vit B complex

☆ (Vit C)

☆ Vit D + K Spray

The problem here is that vit C should be taken two hours away from B12 (in the B complex) because vit C affects the way the body uses B12. You'd be better off taking your vit C at the same time as your iron - it's the only one that can be taken with iron, and is, actually, necessary for absorption.

[CBDB in reply to greygoose]

Oh gosh! I didn’t know that (Or forgot). Will put Vit C with Iron. Thank YOU!

[greygoose in reply to CBDB]

You're welcome.

[CBDB]

UPDATE Aug 2022: ==============

I finally figured out my new nutrient timing after my latest blood tests (see healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... ) . So I will actually try splitting both T4/T3 as I’ve read that for some splitting both also makes a difference, and I’m more likely to remember. (Higher stakes! 😏).

I am also stopping Berberine, as it has not made a difference and opinion here is not unanimous and it seems to not tried and tested. (I am also not willing to go up from the one capsule I’ve been taken for 2 months)

So I’ll try the below and have set my alarm, discovering that you could also ”label” the IOS alarm (pic). I’ve tried to avoid any interactions between nutrients and hope I’ve caught them all, but it does get quite complicated.

I would love to see if SeasideSusie and greygoose might just have a moment to glance over these, in case they spot some unintended interactions.

I am as always so thankful for the collective experience of this forum.

NUTRIENT REGIME (from Aug 2022):

(splitting my T4/T3, on waking and bedtime.)

☆ 06:30 (1): 0.5 T3 & T4

☆ 07:30 (2): W/ B’FAST: Omega3, NAC, VitB, L-Glutamine (in BFST Protein Smoothie)

☆ 11:00 (3): AWAY FROM FOOD: Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

☆ 13:00 (4): W/ LUNCH: Selenium, VitC, Iron

☆ 15:00 (5): AWAY FROM FOOD: Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

☆ 19:00 (6): W/ DINNER: Magnesium, VitD

☆ 23:00 (7): 0.5 T3 & T4

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to CBDB]

CBDB

As iron affects the absorption of everything else and needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements (although it's fine to take Vit C with iron as it aids it's absorption) I would suggest moving selenium to 19.00 with your magnesium and Vit D.

Other than that it looks fine to me.

[CBDB in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ahh, right! That would be a great solution.

[greygoose in reply to CBDB]

If you're taking your omega 3, etc. with breakfast, will that give the recommended gap of 2 hours between thyroid hormone and all supplements?

What is 'vit B'? Which one? Are you only taking one? If you take one, you need to take all the others because they need to be kept balanced.

[CBDB in reply to greygoose]

Hmm yeah, I might have to move bfast to 8:30. (Bummer, I liked my morning routine)

VitB, I take Brewers Yeast, but sometimes replace that with Thorne VitB complex.

[greygoose in reply to CBDB]

OK

[CBDB in reply to greygoose]

Thank you both, so much! 🙏

[greygoose in reply to CBDB]

You're very welcome.