Retested: low D & B12, high ferritin

[Insomania]

I have retested with medicheck because I'm in the queue to see a private endocrinologist about my symptoms. I was hoping that treating my vitamins and minerals may give a different thyroid hormone picture.

Iron 239ug/L (range 30-150)

I am under haematology, treated for iron deficiency anaemia. Tested quarterly, it was last tested 29th March 2023 and it had risen slightly to 183ug/L (range 10-291) 61%. I have iron infusions when my ferritin gets low (last Oct 2022) because I cannot tolerate iron tabs so *I only take spatone 10mg per day​* to maintain and tranexamic acid for heavy periods. I can't understand how this is so high! I will contact my Dr about it.

VitD 64nmol/L (range 50-250)

I’m disappointed it’s still so low. I’ve been religiously taking 2000iu daily since 1st January 2023 and there's no increase, it was 66 nmol/L (30 - 500) 7.7%. Should I double the dose?

B12 68pmol/L (37.5-188)

This is worse than in January 2023 when it was 386 nmol/L (range 211 - 911) 25%.I’ve been taking igennus Super B Complex daily which has450mcgof B12(except in week before blood test). I’ve recently gone up to 2 tablets per day (900mcg B12). I had a horrible reaction to Thorpe. Aha I just spotted medicheck measure is pmol/L and nhs is nmol/L so maybe this is ok?

Thyroid hormones

Pretty much the same results as I’ve been getting for two years. 

Past results for info

15th December 2022

TSH 0.32 mIU/L (0.35 - 5.5) -0.6%

Free T4 (fT4) 15.3 pmol/L (10.5 - 21) 45.7%

 4th January 2023, TSH retested with T4, T3, vits and minerals

TSH 0.59mIU/L (0.35 - 5.5) 4.7%

Free T4 (fT4) 14.4 pmol/L (10.5 - 21) 37.1%

Free T3 (fT3) 5.0 pmol/L (3.5 - 6.5) 50.0%

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) <28 IU/mL (≤ 60)

Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) <0.10 IU/L (<0.56)

Vitamin B12 386 nmol/L (211 - 911) 25.0%

Vitamin D3 66 nmol/L (30 - 500) 7.7%

Folate 16.93 (>4.12)serum iron 14 umol/L (9 - 30.4) 23.4%

Ferritin 176.6ug/L(10-291) 59.3% 

29 March 2023 (quarterly nhs iron panel)

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) 4 mg/L (0 - 9) 44.4%

Serum iron 19.1 ug/L (9 - 30.4) 47.2%

Ferritin 183 ug/L (10 - 291) 61.6%

[SlowDragon Administrator]

B12

Medichecks is Active B12

Previous test was Serum B12

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement as well as separate vitamin B Complex after a week 

once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week 

In week before test, when you stop vitamin B complex recommend you take a separate daily folate and daily B12 until day before test

B12 drops 

natureprovides.com/products...

Separate methyl folate - eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg

[Insomania in reply to SlowDragon]

Aha! So much to learn!

I’m not a meat eater.

I’ll get extra B12 drops.

Thank you 😀

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Vitamin D

Yes you need to increase the dose or try vitamin D mouth spray as this avoids poor gut function of taking tablets

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. 

One spray = 1000iu

Try 3 or 4 sprays per day

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

Aiming to improve to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing 

vitamindtest.org.uk

Another member recommended this one recently

Vitamin D with k2

amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease 

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease 

newscientist.com/article/23...

Are you taking any magnesium supplement

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Insomania in reply to SlowDragon]

hi, yes I take vitamin K2-MK7 and magnesium as advised here. I’ll add in a vit D spray. Thank you for the advice.

[Insomania in reply to SlowDragon]

My goodness I love the vitD spray you recommended, it’s minty and delicious!

Is it ok to take vitD and vitK together?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Insomania]

Yes

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin range on Medichecks 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes: 

Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L

Female's: 16-60: 30-150

Both >60: 30-650 

The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘

[Insomania in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I read the thread you linked on medicheck range.

I am female 48, perimenopausal.

I get ferritin checked every three months by nhs haematology Dr so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing…

[humanbean]

B12 68pmol/L (37.5-188)

This is worse than in January 2023 when it was 386 nmol/L (range 211 - 911) 25%.I’ve been taking igennus Super B Complex daily which has450mcgof B12(except in week before blood test). I’ve recently gone up to 2 tablets per day (900mcg B12)

I just wanted to point out that the full dose of Igennus Super B Complex is 2 tablets a day. So, until you increased to 2 tablets you were taking only half the recommended dose of the product.

I take a B Complex, but don't stick to the same brand all the time. None of the products I've taken will maintain my level of B12 or folate where I want them. I have to buy separate products of folate and B12 to get optimal levels, and depending on my levels I take the additional products 3 or 4 times a week, adjusting up or down as necessary.

So I take a B Complex all the time and adjust my additional supplements to get my optimal levels.

I take 1000mcg tablets of methylcobalamin and 1000mcg tablets of methylfolate.

Some links you might find helpful :

Types of B12 supplements available

perniciousanemia.org/b12/fo...

.

Folate vs. folic acid

takecareof.com/articles/ben...

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...