Advanced thyroid screening update for goitre

[Berryholly]

Hi,

I recently posted about my goitre which has slowly appeared over last few years. I was advised by a few of you to get a full thyroid screening which I have through medichecks. Annoyingly they’re all within range apart from my vit D. Is there any obvious cause of my swollen thyroid from these results? Thanks!

CRP 0.77 (0-5)

Ferritin 66.7 (13-150)

Folate serum 3.99 (>3.89)

Vit b12 57.1 (37.5-150)

Vit D 30 (50-200)

TSH 1.57 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 4.26 (3.1-6.8)

Free thyroxine 13.2 (12-22)

Thyroglobulin antibodies 13 (<115)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies <9 (<34)

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Your folate is marginal and B12 not that far behind. I suggest you consider both for supplementation. The FT4, whilst within reference interval, isn't exactly high!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well they may be in range…..most most are extremely low

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Folate serum 3.99 (>3.89)

Vit b12 57.1 (37.5-150)

Active B12 below 70 needs further investigation

Ideally GP should test for Pernicious Anaemia before you start on any B vitamins

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

>70*; * between 25-70 referred for MMA

Folate is extremely low

Don’t start any B vitamins until GP has tested for PA …..unless you can’t get them to test …in which case you will have to just start supplementing

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-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

IMPORTANT......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...

If serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be 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/shop-by-prod...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin D

GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

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

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol. Some CCG areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 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...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/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 NHS private testing service when supplementing

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. One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking 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...

Only add one supplement at a time, then wait at least 10 days to assess before adding another

Suggest you start with vitamin D, while you wait for GP to test for Pernicious Anaemia

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid done?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH 1.57 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 4.26 (3.1-6.8)

Free thyroxine 13.2 (12-22)

Was test above done early morning, ideally before 9am?

FT4: 13.2 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 12.00% through range

FT3: 4.26 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 better, but only 31.35% through range

Ferritin is borderline. Aiming for minimum 70

Look at increasing iron rich foods in your diet

Spend 3-4 months improving your diet and taking supplements

Retest thyroid and vitamins again after this

Was test above done early morning, ideally before 9am?

[Berryholly in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve been taking b complex, B12, 1000iu vit D and 200mcg selenium. Is that okay for now or should I add anything? Thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Berryholly]

No

Which B complex were you taking

Remember when stop taking this a week before blood test, add a separate folate supplement for that week

Thorne Basic B - available online

Vitamin D, 1000iu dose is inadequate as detailed in 2nd reply above

Even NHS recommend 1600iu daily

Suggest you try 3000iu daily and retest thyroid and vitamins again in 2-3 months

Which vitamin D are you currently taking

Is it mouth spray or tablet

Does it include vitamin K2

Likely to need ongoing maintenance dose vitamin D once levels are improved to at least around 80nmol

Also look at adding magnesium supplement

[Berryholly in reply to SlowDragon]

I was taking Holland and Barrett b complex but I’ve just bought the Thorne basic b online. I was taking oral supplement vit d but I’ve just bought the spray with k2 you linked to. Thanks!