kelp supplements

[Munp]

hello all,

I am new to this site and would appreciate some help.

I have an under active thyroid, have been on thyroxine for the last 30 years. I had a thyroid antibodies test done a few weeks ago which came back negative.

I have been losing a lot of hair recently and was told kelp supplements are very good for hair. Does anyone know whether it would be safe to take them given I don’t have hashimotos as the test results were negative? I’m on 75 mcg and my doctor has just increased it to 100 as my recent blood tests had a TSH level of 7.09 and T4 of 15.1.

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Kelp definitely NOT recommended

You were very under medicated. The aim of levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is around 1 and more importantly Ft3 and Ft4 at least 50-60% through range

Likely low vitamin levels as direct result

Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels

Always get actual results and ranges

Low iron/ferritin strongly linked to hair loss

Retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Always test thyroid levels early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[greygoose]

People think kelp is good for hair because of the iodine content. But taking iodine is not recommended when hypo unless you have had your iodine tested and found to be deficient.

Even so, taking 100 mcg levo will give you around 65 mcg iodine daily, which is recycled in the body. Plus you need less iodine when your thyroid is no-longer making thyroid hormone. So, taking kelp supplements would give you excess iodine, which can cause all sorts of problems.

You've probably been losing your hair because you are under-medicated. And also, if you are under-medicated you will have low nutrient levels - iron, vit D, folate and B12 - which will also make you lose your hair. Far more important to optimise those nutrients than take kelp supplements.

[Munp in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your swift reply. I had an iron profile test done and my ferritin levels were 162. I haven’t even been taking any iron supplements. My folate is slightly low but the other blood test results were fine. My doctor says there is no harm in taking kelp so very confused about what to do. He also told me they don’t test for iodine levels.

[greygoose in reply to Munp]

Doctors know nothing about nutrients. They don't learn about them in med school. So, he would have no idea of the dangers of taking iodine.

Nor would he be able to give an informed oppinion on your other nutrient levels, so maybe best to post the results and ranges here so that we can help you with them.

What was the top of the ferritin range? And, was CRP - an inflammation marker - tested at the same time? Ferritin levels can read as a false high if CRP is elevated.

[Munp in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your reply. I will get some up to date testing done and will then post the results.

[greygoose in reply to Munp]

Good idea!