Dear all, I have posted on the group a few times before but would like to take further feedback on recent blood tests from 14th February. I am currently taking 150 mcg levo thyroxine in the morning, c. 1hr before breakfast & caffeine. I am also taking one Doctor's Best vit D3 2000IU and one Super B complex (Igennus) daily. No vitamins taken 7 days before blood test. Also taking 2-3 brazil nuts for selenium most days. Is my understanding correct that vit K2 should be taken c. 4 hours away from B complex ? Other background details: 38 yr old male, 70kg, c. 6ft in height.
TSH = 0.42 mu/L (range=0.3 - 5.5)
Free T3 = 4.9 (range=3.1 - 7.0)
Free T4 = 23.9 (range=11.5 - 22.7) -> above range
Folate = 14.5 (range=3.9 - 20.0)
Ferritin = 85 (range=30 - 284)
Vitamin D = 88 (range=50 - 125.0)
B12 = 682 (range=223 - 1132.0)
Thyroid peroxidase = <25 (range=0 - 33.9)
Symptoms still remain including muscle aches & pains, poor concentration, low mood, energy levels etc. I suspect this could be related to relatively low t3 through range ? Are there any views on t3 and t4 percentages through these ranges ? I am also struggling to get hold of thorne basic B complex, is there any advice on vitamin B supplements other than Igennus as this also contains vit C ?
Any other advice and guidance would be very much greatly received, many thanks.
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Mjpp84
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Is my understanding correct that vit K2 should be taken c. 4 hours away from B complex?
No. There is no requirement for Vit K2 to be taken 4 hours away from B Complex. Vit K2 is fat soluble and should be taken with some dietary fat (unless it has it own fat within the supplement, eg olive oil, linseed flour). It should not be taken at the same time as another fat soluble vitamin (Vits A, E, D), unless they each have their own fat source within the supplement, as they will all complete for fat for absorption.
Also taking 2-3 brazil nuts for selenium most days.
Does the packaging say the nuts are grown in selenium rich soil and state the area grown in and the amount of selenium per serving? If not then it's safe to assume that they're not grown in selenium rich soil and contain little to no selenium.
Eastern Amazon and Central Brazil have the highest amounts of selenium in soil:
Members have kindly given me the following information about Brazil nuts containing a declared amount of selenium available from well known shops/supermarkets here in the UK so if yours doesn't give this information you might want to check out the following:
Sainsburys SO organic brazil nuts contain 50mcg selenium per 30g serving of nuts
One member has said that M&S Natural Brazil Nuts say "harvested by hand in the Amazon forest and naturally high in selenium". You would have to check the nutritional information on the pack to see if it says exactly how much selenium per xxg of Brazil nuts.
Also, check out Aldi's "The Foodie Market" Brazil nuts, the packaging is said to show selenium content as 79mcg per 30g serving.
Another one is 'My Garden of Eden' Brazil nuts from Home Bargains.. They say "High in Selenium and high in vitamin E" on the front of the packet and the Nutritional Information says "one serving (25g) gives 63ug of Selenium".
More recently I've been made aware of Morrisons Market St brand which states 254mcg per 100g or 101.6mg per recommended 40g portion.
Also Waitrose Duchy Organic Brazil Nuts which they claim contain a rather startling 479mcg selenium in a 25mcg serving although that does seem to be out of proportion when looking at the others and I wonder if it's a mistake and should be 47.9mcg selenium in a 25mcg serving:
Symptoms still remain including muscle aches & pains, poor concentration, low mood, energy levels etc. I suspect this could be related to relatively low t3 through range ? Are there any views on t3 and t4 percentages through these ranges ?
Looks like poor conversion. FT4 is over range at 110.71% to produce FT3 at 46.15% BUT when did you take your last dose of Levo before the test, it should be 24 hours before blood draw to avoid a false high or false low FT4 result.
I am also struggling to get hold of thorne basic B complex, is there any advice on vitamin B supplements other than Igennus as this also contains vit C ?
This one contains almost exactly the same proportion of ingredients as Thorne and many members are now using it as it is easier to obtain and works out cheaper:
Thanks for the advice. Last levo was taking the morning of the day before the blood test. Blood test was done c. 9am - no food, vitamins, caffeine on the day. Will look at the B vitamins and currently take foodie market brazil nuts. I also drink a fair amount of caffeine 2-3 coffees and 1-2 teas per day (at least 1 hr after levo) and wonder if this impacts t3 conversion ?
Your ferritin is could be higher. Focus on iron rich diet.
Vit D + K2 up to 100
People report feeling well when folate is at 20.
Your B12 is only just at 50% of range. The normal dose of the Igennus is 2 capsules a day, not 1 but getting Thorne Basic B might fix that.
Have you tried a gluten free diet? Unsure if you have Hashi's as TPO antibodies negative but noresult for Thyroglobulin abs.
It may be that getting vitamins to optimal might help you. Your FT3 is at 46% of range and 60% would help you feel better. Perhaps you may need a small amount of T3 added.
The accepted conversion ratio when taking T4 only is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 - T3/T4 with most people feeling at their best at 4 or under.
So to find how well you are converting T4 into T3 you first need your T4 up in the top quadrant of it's range ( or slightly over range it this gives you the desired result ) and you simply divide your Free T4 by your Free T3 and I'm getting yours coming in at around 4.90 so slightly out from centre showing your conversion struggling.
I think this may well improve when you build up and maintain your vitamins and minerals at optimal -
I now aim for a ferritin at around 100 : folate 20: B12 active 75++ ( serum B12 500 ++ ) and vitamin D at around 100.
Looking at the ferritin level given above for men suggest you look to achieve at least around 50% of the range.
Thanks for the feedback on this post. I have started taking one Liposomal B complex softgel per day. I have also continued to take one vitamin D3 2000IU. I haven't been taking any vitamin K2 for a while but previously took Vitabay K2 - is this a good brand and are there better brands out there ? Does anyone have any advice regarding K2 supplements and whether this would help with my symptoms ?
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