Update on results - Vitamin D deficiency?

[SCRF2022]

Hi everyone,

I took everyone’s advice and got Blue Horizon test - am I right in thinking my symptoms are due to a vitamin d deficiency? (Hair loss, brain fog etc). Does everything else look ok?

Thank you in advance!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

SCRF2022

Actually, all your nutrients are poor.

Ferritin: 28.7ug/L (13-150)

You need to speak to your doctor about this.

From: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Your GP should do an iron panel consisting of Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, Transferrin Saturation Percentage and Ferritin. This will show if you have iron deficiency. GP should also do a full blood count to test for anaemia. You can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia.

Don't self supplement, if you already have a decent level of serum iron and a good saturation percentage then taking iron tablets can push your iron level even higher, too much iron is as bad as too little. You need further testing and if iron deficiency or anaemia is present then GP should prescribe and regularly monitor your levels.

Iron tests should be done after a 12 hour fast (water allowed) so early morning appointment is best for iron tests so that you don't have to go through the day without food.

Symptoms of low ferritin include:

◾Weakness

◾Fatigue

◾Difficulty concentrating

◾Poor work productivity

◾Cold hands and feet

◾Poor short-term memory

◾Difficulty remembering names

◾Dizziness

◾Pounding in the ears

◾Shortness of breath

◾Brittle nails

◾Headaches

◾Restless legs

Symptoms of iron deficiency include:

◾Persistent fatigue

◾Pale skin

◾Shortness of breath

◾Headaches

◾Dizziness

◾Heart palpitations

◾Dry skin

◾Brittle hair and hair loss

◾Swelling or soreness of the tongue or mouth

◾Restless legs

◾Brittle or ridged nails

Vit D: 28nmol/L

This is just 3 points above what the NHS class as Vit D deficiency. Whether your GP will prescribe loading doses is questionable, he may think you're close enough to deficiency to do so, he may just provide a miserly 800iu or 1,600iu D3 daily. Discuss with GP and come back and tell us what he is going to do. If GP doesn't give loading doses I can point you in the direction of the guidelines so you can follow them yourself, and I can tell you about the important cofactors necessary when taking D3 which your GP will know nothing about.

Vit B12: 267pmol/L (145-569)

This equates to 362pg.ml.

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 pg/ml to at least 450 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 pg/ml."

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency – check here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/submit/document?id=46

If you do then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Do not take any B12 supplements or folic acid/folate/B Complex supplements before further testing of B12 as this will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.

Folate: 13.3 (8.83-60.8)

This is low but not folate deficiency. Once further testing of B12 for deficiency of PA has been done you could take a good quality B Complex containing methylfolate (eg Thorne Basic B) to help improve this level, also ensure you eat folate rich foods. Do not take this before further testing of B12.

These are the sort of poor nutrient levels we expect to see when Hashi's is present but your thyroid antibody results are negative. However, it's possible to have Hashi's without positive antibody results. Poor gut function can also affect absorption of nutrients so that's something to consider.

Once nutrient levels are optimised then check thyroid levels again, they may have improved.

[SCRF2022 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so so much for your reply… you’ve been more helpful than any GP so far! At least I have the knowledge to make an appointment now! Thanks again!