Low Folate

[red_devil]

Hi, back in August I had blood tests done as I was feeling unwell which I thought it was due to my thyroid levels but turned out to be low folate.

I was prescribed 5mg folic acid for 3 months and then had another blood test which showed my levels had increased and were in range, so the tablets were stopped.

Now I have been off the tablets for 6 weeks and starting to feel tired again and breathless. I thought the body stores folic acid for 3-4 months so does that mean that my folate levels can't be low and the symptoms might be due to something else?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what were your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

How long on this dose

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin results and ranges

Folate levels drop within days of stopping supplements as is water based

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

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

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) 

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable prices

If you want to try a different brand in the meantime, one with virtually identical doses of the ingredients, and bioavailable too, then take a look at Vitablossom Liposomal B Complex. Amazon sometimes has it branded Vitablossom but it's also available there branded as Yipmai, it's the same supplement

amazon.co.uk/Yipmai-Liposom...

or available as Vitablossom brand here

hempoutlet.co.uk/vitablosso... &description=true

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...

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

[red_devil in reply to SlowDragon]

T3 4.5 Range 3.1 - 6.8

T4 23.6 Range 11-25

TSH 0.06 Range 0.27-4.2

I take the same brand and I take 125. My tsh is low due to suppression.

Serum b12 - 721ng/l Range 180 - 900

Serum folate 4.5ug/l Range >3.0

Serum ferritin 95 Range 15-300

I was still on Folic Acid when I had the bloods taken.

[red_devil]

T3 4.5 Range 3.1 - 6.8

T4 23.6 Range 11-25

TSH 0.06 Range 0.27-4.2

I take the same brand and I take 125. My tsh is low due to suppression.

Serum b12 - 721ng/l Range 180 - 900

Serum folate 4.5ug/l Range >3.0

Serum ferritin 95 Range 15-300

I was still on Folic Acid when I had the bloods taken.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to red_devil]

no vitamin D test result

FT4: 23.6 pmol/l (Range 11 - 25)

Ft4 is 90.00% through range

FT3: 4.5 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 37.84% through range

Shows poor conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3

Likely to benefit from slightly less Ft4 and addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

[red_devil in reply to SlowDragon]

my GP wants to lower my levothyroxine dose due to high t4 but consultant wants me to stay on the dose I am on.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Just saying, I was never actually deficient in folate but had a low in range result. I need to take a folate supplement on a regular basis to raise and maintain an optimal level. Suspect this might be the case for you too.

[Lotika]

I have found that I feel a lot better if I take the Igennus Dissolvable Vitamin B tablets. It includes a very absorbable form of folate and if my folate has become a little low, it provides me with an immediate pick up. It isn't cheap and I also have their tablets, but every now and again I get a bit complacent about taking my vitamin pills and dissolvable tablets seem to do the trick.