Optimal vitamins and low stomach acid ?

[ChickieBaker]

Hello.I keep reading on the forum about having optimal vitamins levels but I really don't know what that means. Should I be trying to be at the top of the range given or is somewhere in the middle O.K. Also I read somewhere on here about how to test for stomach acid levels ( I think it's got something to do with baking soda ). I'm constantly really bloated, burping and gassy. I've been trying ACV in water but really don't know what to do.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Low stomach acid fairly common with low thyroid & will affect absorption of any medication & ultimately nutrients.

To confirm if stomach acid low you can do a DIY test to check. Called “the burp test”

This is from a US site so baking soda / baking powder are different - in UK sites it’s “sodium bicarbonate”

First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything (& taking medication)

1. Mix ¼ tsp baking soda in 4 to 6 ounces of cold water.

2. Drink the baking soda solution.

3. Time how long it takes for a burp to occur. Time it for up to 5 minutes:

4. If you have not burped within five minutes, it may be a sign of insufficient stomach acid. Early and repeated burping may be due to too much stomach acid (do not to confuse this with small burps from swallowing air when drinking the solution). Any burping after 3 minutes is an indication of low stomach acid levels.

Some use digestive enzymes and or apple cider “with the mother” vinegar. eg watered down in glass water or in gummy. Have you found the ACV helped?

Most nutrients are optimal when at least half way through range. So depends on the unit of measurement & lab range.

If you have a test results, share on here and members can check where you are in range & if they need small or higher doses of supplements.

[ChickieBaker in reply to PurpleNails]

Thanks for your help.My last medichecks results for vitamins are

Folate - 40.7 ( range is 8.83-60.8 )

B12 active - >150 ( range is 37.5-188 )

Vitamin D - 139 ( range is 50-250 )

Ferritin - 272 ( range is 30-150 )

I'm not sure if they ACV is working or not, I tend to dilute it and add a little honey as the ACV tickles my throat and makes me cough !!

When I do the burp test am I waiting for a proper belch as opposed to 'ladylike burping' which I do constantly 🤣

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts

You only just started on levothyroxine

Things will improve once you get settled on correct dose

My vitamins etc on my test end of July are :

CRP - 5.18 ( range less than 3 )

Ferritin -272 ( range 30-150 )

Folate -40.7 ( range 8.83-60.8 )

Vit B12 active - 150 ( range 37.50-188 )

Vit D -139 ( range 50-250 )

Vitamin levels look pretty good

Ferritin might be false high as CRP is high

Recheck in 6 months

[ChickieBaker in reply to SlowDragon]

When you say I'll feel better on the correct dose, do you think it will improve my digestive problems, I'm sick of looking 5 months pregnant, especially in my late 50's !!Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ChickieBaker]

Yes

Low stomach acid is EXTREMELY common hypothyroid symptom

You’re only just started on replacement thyroid hormone. Likely to need further increase (s) in levothyroxine over coming months

Nothing happens quickly in the hormone world

Retest thyroid and vitamins 2-3 months after starting on levothyroxine

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)

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Please consider signing this petition for much needed funding for helping to get better testing, treatment and understanding of thyroid disease

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[ChickieBaker in reply to SlowDragon]

Done ☺️