I’m back hoping for advice please. I’ve just seen my GP regarding my latest blood tests. Her answer to most of the results are you’re fine they’re in the normal range. My zinc levels are 12.6 umol/L (11.0-24). Should I take zinc supplements at this level? I’m already taking D3+K2 and my result for this was now high 97.3 nmol/L and she’s said to leave it off for summer?I’ve read too high vitamin D can cause brittle bones and I’ve got osteopenia and vitamin D has stopped my chest pains. I take magnesium and that’s reaching top of normal and I take omega 3. I’m just starting B12 supplements but she says I’m in normal range 224 pg/mL (197-771) so no real need but take them if I want.
I’m now getting worried in case I take these supplements for too long and cause more harm than good. I’m seeing an endocrinologist later this month for the first time, but I’m not even sure if they’ll be able to advise me as I’ve lost faith in everyone but the ladies on here.
Thank you as usual for advice on this as I feel lost in trying to help myself with vitamins without medical supervision.
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Essexlil
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Her answer to most of the results are you’re fine they’re in the normal range.
They may be in the normal range but they're not necessarily at optimal levels, this is something doctors don't seem to comprehend. They look at a number, if it's within the range then everything is fine as far as they are concerned, they have no concept of what is optimal, they are taught very little, if anything, about nutrients.
I’m already taking D3+K2 and my result for this was now high 97.3 nmol/L and she’s said to leave it off for summer?
This isn't "high" as in you need to stop supplementing. This level is good and is approaching the level recommended by the Vit D Society, Vit D Council and Grassroots Health. They all recommend a level between 100-150nmol/L with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health recommending at least 125nmol/L. According to the NHS lab which offers Vit D testing to the general public a level of 220nmol/L plus would suggest approaching toxicity - see image below.
If you wish to stay at your current level then you need to find your maintenance dose. How much do you currently take?
I take magnesium and that’s reaching top of normal
Have you had a red cell magnesium test or the standard serum magnesium test?
Testing magnesium is unreliable. About 99% of magnesium is stored in bone, muscles and soft tissues, leaving about 1% in the blood. So testing what's in the blood isn't giving an accurate picture of our magnesium status.
A red cell magnesium test is said to be the better indicator of magnesium status, not the standard serum magnesium test. The red cell test is expensive and requires phlebotomy which is why it's not included in these bundles.
I’m just starting B12 supplements but she says I’m in normal range 224 pg/mL (197-771) so no real need but take them if I want.
I'm afraid she's showing her ignorance here. That level of B12 is dire. There are many people with a level in the 300s who have been found to need B12 injections.
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:
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 and if you have B12 deficiency and it is not detected and treated then this could affect your nervous system. B12 deficiency should be treated before starting folic acid because folic acid can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that is masks B12 deficiency.
With B12 symptoms take precedence over numbers.
If you don't have any symptoms then if that was my result I'd be supplementing with a sublingual methylcobalamin 1000mcg along with a good quality, bioavailable B Complex. Once your level has reached 500 plus then it's fine to drop the B12 and just continue with the B Complex.
When taking B Complex we should leave this off for 3-7 days before any blood test as it contains biotin which causes false results.
Thank you for your reply and reassurance about vitamin D. I was taking 2400 IU but now only take 600 IU as was worried about levels.
My magnesium was only a serum test 0.91 mmol/L (0.7-1.0). I’ve been taking 100 mg daily with vitamin D as above. My GP said to continue this. Mybowels seem to have improved with these two supplements, plus chest pains have completely cleared up.
It’s difficult for me to judge symptoms regarding B12 as I’ve also got Sjögren’s and between that and autoimmune thyroid I probably have a few of the symptoms (brain fog, anxiety). I was tested for pernicious anaemia and I don’t have that. I’ve just started B12 @ 1000 ug. I’ve got a bcomplex spray but stopped that because I had concerns about it containing Steviol glycosides. I’d read something about sweeteners causing blood clots. It’s Smart way B complex. Should I take this too?GP said they won’t give B12 injections in normal range.
My zinc level is 12.6 umol/L (11.0-24.0) is this a concern? Just a bit worried about taking so many supplements and I’ve read that zinc can be dangerous.
I also take omega 3 fish oil.
Thank you again for your advice. Like a lot of people we’d be lost without the expertise of Thyroid UK ladies.
The Amazon one is a couple of pounds dearer than the other one.
Alternatively there is Thorne Basic B which is another good one.
You definitely need both B12 plus a separate B Complex until your B12 level reaches 500, then just continue with the B Complex.
As for zinc, I have read that it's recommended to be half way through range. However, zinc and copper ideally would be balanced so it's probably best that both are tested to know exactly what to supplement, often we Hypos have one high and the other low.
I’ll get one of your suggested B supplements, as you say, I’m not happy with the excipients in the Smart way.
My GP has booked me in for a blood test three months after my last one a few weeks ago - is that too long to take B12 plus Bcomplex without seeing my levels?
My GP has booked me in for a blood test three months after my last one a few weeks ago - is that too long to take B12 plus Bcomplex without seeing my levels?
I think that is just about right with your B12 level.
Well, no doubt going against the grain, but I'm for only taking supplements when you need them. Having had life-threatening cancer, which I survived, I agreed to take part in a trial looking to see if there is a link between developing cancer and taking supplements. There is (though it is possible that is correlation rather than cause and effect), and, I was taking supplements when the cancer developed. Also, we are a vegan family, have been for decades, and despite all the warnings about B12 not being in any vegan foods, none of us has been found to be low in B12, including me, and I generally avoid foods containing added vitamins. I'm not trying to be alarmist nor to push my point of view, just offering my experience.
hi, thankyou for replying - something for me to think about. I’m never keen about taking supplements but in the other hand, my vitamin D level was insufficient (according to NHS guidelines) and I was worried about my bones after being told I had osteopenia. There was a strange ‘bonus’ when I started to take vitamin D - chest pains I’d had for years completely disappeared. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed now and have stopped vitamin D for a while as my anxiety levels seem to be getting really bad and they increase when I’ve taken it. I don’t know whether to take supplements or not, although my vitamin B12 is low.
Hallo again Essexlil, I can see your dilemma, especially with the vitamin D, however it seems sensible to take the B12, unless you could eat enough foods rich enough in it to bring your levels up. I misread your original post and didn't see that you have osteopoenia. Do you think a different brand might not have the negative impact on anxiety? I also wonder if taking magnesium (or bathing in Epsom salts) might offset the anxiety? There's a good book by Earl Mindell called The Vitamin Bible which explains a lot about some vitamins increasing our need for others, or interfering with our uptake of others and that sort of thing. It's very old though, some 20 years at least, so there must be others with updated information. Very best of luck and please let us know how you go.
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