Thyroid Supplement recommendations: Hi All. I... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,936 members161,765 posts

Thyroid Supplement recommendations

Agatha1977 profile image
5 Replies

Hi All.

I wondered if anyone had any recommendations on the best thyroid supplements to take, alongside Levothyroxine? I’ve been researching the best vitamins / minerals for supporting thyroid health and Cytoplan Thyroid Support seems to get decent reviews. Does anyone have any personal experience of using this? Thanks in advance.

Written by
Agatha1977 profile image
Agatha1977
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
5 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

If you're already taking thyroid hormone replacement, it's a little late to be thinking about thyroid health. You are hypo, and no supplement is going to change that.

Cytoplan Thyroid Support contains a lot of iodine, which really isn't recommended for hypos unless you have tested iodine deficient. Even then, supplementation should be done under the supervision of an experienced professional. Not with an OTC mult-mineral. Excess iodine is anti-thyroid - and you're already getting iodine from your levo (100 mcg T4 contains about 65 mcg iodine) and your diet. And as your thyroid is no longer making thyroid hormone, you need less iodine, not more.

I really, really wouldn't take this supplement - or any other of the same ilk - if I were you. The best you can do for your health is test the basics - vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin, zinc and copper - and supplement where necessary. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

B12 - 269ng/L (range 180 - 900)

Ferratin - 55.6 Micog (range 10 - 200)

Folate - 10.6 (range 3.0 - 20.0)

Vit D - 55 nmol/L (range 50 - 250)

Aiming for B12 at least over 500, Folate near 20, vitamin D 100-125nmol and ferritin over 70 minimum

TSH - 0.85 mu/L (range 0.30 - 4.20)

Just testing TSH is inadequate

Work on improving low vitamin levels then get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

only add one vitamin supplement at a time and then wait at least 10 days to assess before adding another

Starting with vitamin D, then B12, then vitamin B complex then magnesium

Meanwhile increasing iron rich foods in your diet

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

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

Then 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

B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Other options

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

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

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

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

One spray = 1000iu

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

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...

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

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

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

On levothyroxine never take anything called “thyroid support “ or anything with iodine in it

You are getting all the iodine you need from levothyroxine

Also ESSENTIAL to test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies at least once

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

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, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

6 weeks after starting on vitamin B complex get FULL thyroid including thyroid antibodies and vitamin testing

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks currently has 20% off . You can order kit now to use in 2 months time

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

You may also like...

Supplement recommendations?

back in range except for Vitamin D, I have a slight vitamin D defficiency. Vitamin D 25-OH : 23,...

B12 supplements recommendations please.

Can anyone please recommend a good source of B12 supplements please? Thank you in advance.

Supplement brand recommendation

Folate, Vitamin D, Selenium & B12 to top up my low levels following my recent blood results. Can...

Selenium supplement recommendations please?

can’t seem to tolerate them at all - with my IBS flaring up whenever I take any. Thanks in advance!

Zinc supplement recommendation

need to take a copper supplement? Can anyone recommend a different zinc supplement for me to try.