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More results found - any supplements recommended for hair loss?

Feelingrubbish profile image
18 Replies

I had a telephone appointment with a doctor from my surgery recently to discuss my results from 20th July and my current hair loss/balding patches.

I found out that there were more results that I hadn't been given as a print out when I went to collect them a week or so before , including B12, ferratin and folate (see attached - hopefully you can read them).

The doctor also had a letter from my endocrinologist (I was ‘cc’ but never received my copy). I found out there is a 'plan'!! ("...I have suggested increasing the dose of Levothyroxine to 50mcg, aiming for a free T4 in the upper quartile...")

I am due to have everything re-tested at the end of August to see if my T4 has increased and I am feeling a bit more reassured that if my levels don't improve much that I could ask for my levo to be increased again. I know that this needs to be done in stages and I have coped well with my current increase from 25 to 50mcg..

I wondered whether, looking at these extra results, there might be any supplements I could take to help my hair improve? The doctor said I wasn’t anaemic but could consider taking a multivitamin with iron however I know that this is not recommended on this forum.

Any guidance would be very welcome.

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Feelingrubbish
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18 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Feelingrubbish

Your results aren't showing :)

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to SeasideSusie

Whoops! Sorry, I’ve hopefully attached to post now.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Previous post shows ferritin and B12 results in one of last replies

B12 300 approx

Ferritin 29

Both far too low

Low B12

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid). 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-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they 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...

With 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.

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...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Low ferritin

You need full iron panel test for anaemia

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Low iron and/or low ferritin frequently linked to hair loss

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

Also See page 7 on here

rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Good explanations of iron

theironclinic.com/iron-defi...

theironclinic.com/ironc/wp/...

Excellent reply by Blearyeyed about iron in this post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you Slow Dragon. I will spend some time following those links. 😊

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish

Results here…

More results
greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Feelingrubbish

Your ferritin is very, very low. That will affect your hair. Your doctor should be doing a full iron panel. On what did he base his assertion that you aren't anaemic?

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to greygoose

I had a full iron check back in April so that as what the doctor looked at and said I wasn’t anaemic.

Any suggestions on how to increase my ferritin level? Doctor didn’t seem to be concerned about how low it was.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Feelingrubbish

Doctors know nothing about nutrients. They don't learn about them in med school. What were the results and ranges of your iron panel?

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to greygoose

Looking at my print outs:

Serum iron level… 14 umol/L (5.8 - 34.5)

Serum TIBC… 63 umol/L (45.0 - 70.0)

Saturation of iron binding capacity… 22% (25.0 - 45.0)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Feelingrubbish

Well, you're serum iron is also very low, so my guess is that you need to be on iron supplements with vit C.

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to greygoose

Can you recommend any product in particular?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Feelingrubbish

No, I'm sorry, I can't. Myself, I take Sogar Gentle Iron, two a day, and that seems to suit me fine, hair beginning to regrow. But, it doesn't suit everyone. Start a new question, asking just that. :)

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to greygoose

Thank you, I’ll do that. 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Likely to need further increase in levothyroxine over coming months

As you have Hashimoto’s, have you had coeliac blood test done?

Always worth trying strictly gluten free diet, but rule out coeliac first

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you, I have been thinking about GF following reading on this forum and elsewhere about benefits for Hashimotos. I don’t have many coeliac symptoms (occasional bloating and pain but I can often work out my triggers). Asking for a test seems a good idea before launching into a change of diet for me and family meal complications.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I haven't used vitamins for hair loss.. My hair loss is called alopecia areata - another autoimmune disease.

I have lost all of my hair several times. What restored my hair was a product called 'Hair Growth' by Luvme Care from Amzon".

Unfortunately, for me, even though it grew back -and I needed a hair cut.- after a few months it fell out again.

I have now begun Luvme hair care once more.

Feelingrubbish profile image
Feelingrubbish in reply to shaws

Thank you, I have recently bought that and started using it on your recommendation on my previous post. I’m so sorry to hear about your struggles.

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