Thyroid and Folate deficiency

[rob1958]

I've been on Levothyroxine for many years (100mg). After contracting Covid last year and being unable to match previous physical performances, I was diagnosed with a folate deficiency. I was told this was common post Covid, was prescribed folic acid tablets and saw an immediate improvement. I was told the supplement shouldn't be permanent. My performances are now dipping again and I suspect the folate deficiency has reappeared. Has anyone else had similar experience? Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

rob1958

After the prescription for folic acid was stopped was your folate level tested? It's a good idea to follow up with a B Complex to maintain your new level, B Complex contains all of the B vitamins and hells to keep them balanced.

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

hi SeasideSusie

my b12 level is near the top end but folate bottom end. Is it ok to take a B complex? Some of them have high levels of B’s in them. Is that ok?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to janeroar]

Yes, I have that same situation! B vitamins are water soluble so any excess when taken as a supplement should be excreted.

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks SeasideSusie 🙏🏼

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie im going to get some multi b’s. Can you suggest a brand? (You’re officially my vitamin guru btw!☺️)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to janeroar]

Thorne Basic B if you can find it in stock at the right price (comes and goes out of stock and can be rather expensive). I used to use this brand but have now changed to the following which is almost identical and you get 90 days supply rather than 60 days and it's cheaper, I'm happy with it and will probably stick with it:

Vitablossom - hempoutlet.co.uk/vitablosso... - I went to order some a few days ago but it seems they're awaiting stock so I've ordered this one instead from Amazon which is branded as Yipmai but is the same supplement:

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

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

fantastic thank you 🙏🏼

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ve been looking at the liposomal B and wondering if you know where it’s made? Altrient make a vitamin B liposomal and it’s £60 but made in UK. So a huge price difference. I’m a big fan of their liposomal vitamin c, been paying £40 a month for it for a few years now and I wouldn’t be without it. I’m wondering why one product is so much cheaper than another and if there’s any difference in quality of ingredients and are these companies who make them signed up to regulatory bodies that have guidelines to protect consumers.

Altrient B - Liposomal Vitamin B Complex by LivOn Labs - B1, B2, B6, B12, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Folate Biotin, Plus Minerals Zinc, Chromium, Selenium and Additional Cinnamon and Phospholip amzn.eu/d/15pFWrw

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to janeroar]

Vitablossom bottle says made in the USA. I am expecting delivery of the Yipmai one tomorrow and the Amazon description says made in the USA so if the bottle says any different I will come back and tell you.

I’m wondering why one product is so much cheaper than another and if there’s any difference in quality of ingredients and are these companies who make them signed up to regulatory bodies that have guidelines to protect consumers.

The Vitablossom bottle shows that it is EcoCert certified but I can't answer these questions I'm afraid.

[janeroar in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks 🙏🏼

Thought this info was helpful for me. Not many companies seem to be using third party testing which makes me feel suspicious about their efficacy and safety

Regulation of supplements The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not evaluate the effectiveness, safety, or quality of dietary supplements — or the ingredients in them — before they enter the marketplace (1Trusted Source). This is important to realize, as it means that there is no guarantee the product contains what it claims to. Furthermore, a product may even contain varying amounts of the ingredients from batch to batch. While the FDA requires supplement manufacturers to adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), which are intended to ensure the quality and safety of these products, compliance is not always enforced (24Trusted Source).The best way to ensure the quality of a product is to look for one that has been certified by a third-party company.Third-party testing Third-party testing is not required by law. However, some supplement manufacturers voluntarily choose to undergo testing to show their commitment to producing high quality products. One objective indicator of product quality is a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which is awarded by an independent third-party company, such as NSF, USP, Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG), or ConsumerLab.Most products that have been certified by one of these third-party companies have been tested for one or more of the following (25): The supplement contains what’s stated on the label and in the amounts listed Products are standardized from batch to batch. The supplement is free of harmful levels of contaminants or other potential drug contaminants. The product doesn’t contain any undeclared ingredients. Additionally, if you’re an athlete, it can be helpful to look for products that are NSF Certified for Sport. This certification ensures that the product is free of more than 270 substances that are banned or prohibited by most major sports organizations (26). 

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to janeroar]

I've just had delivery of my "Yipmai" B Complex from Amazon. It is actually Vitablossom, box and bottle both branded Vitablossom. I always thought it was actually Vitablossom just with another name but it seems they just use the Yipmai name on Amazon's page but are sending out Vitablossom branding. I bought my first ever Vitablossom B Complex off Amazon last year so they did used to use that brand name on their page at one time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested 

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once 

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£32 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[CoeliacMum1]

So what I know with on going deficiencies is trying to find the root cause is key… with my last situation my GP referring me to Dietitian in summer 2020 although I’m well aware my coeliac - and add in other digestive conditions can be the root cause of this.

Not to alarm but my GP stated that me having coeliac disease and very good adherence to gluten free diet and repeat folate problems (obviously from my blood tests) that it now requires a FITT test this is fecal test for colon cancer screening (maybe other factors triggered this also say my age as over 50) ironically 11 months later the routine screening test came in post so 2 tests within a year 🙄

I already have B12 injections every 3 months periodically supplement via GP with iron and twice had to have folate in 8 years… this is folic acid through NHS but I’m aware Methyl version of folate is supposedly better, dietitian will still go on about folic acid ( just for your information) see a nutritionist and they will probably say go for methyl folate version.

If you think this is a reoccurrence of the same thing before supplementing again get to see your GP and get all tests again try to resolve why this area is problematic, there is no point being tested whilst on supplements as false readings… get the bare bones what’s going off if there’s a nutritional reason for example eg cooking food to death or not eating enough folate rich food… underlying digestive issues causing it and even drinking alcohol can deplete your B vitamins especially folate, so all these areas and more should be looked at. You will probably have to supplement again if this area is the problem but best you’ve eliminated other problems beforehand.