Vitamins and minerals: Hello I am hypothyroid... - Thyroid UK

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Vitamins and minerals

Ogbourne profile image
9 Replies

Hello

I am hypothyroid and take Levothyroxine 100 and 75mg on alternate days.

Recent test results from mid-September

Ferretin (24-366) 153 ng/ml

Folate (3.1-19.9) 11.2 ng/ml

B12 (180-915) 276 ng/L

Vitamin D (>50) 53 nmol/L

I am symptomatic and want to improve my condition.

Currently not supplementing with any of the above, but can see that although they are all within range, all of them are quite low perhaps with the exception of Folate.

I understand from this forum that supplementing my diet with the above, will improve my condition. What I don't know is what levels I should be aiming for and how long will it take to improve my health? Once I've started supplementing, how long until I retest?

Thank you

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Ogbourne profile image
Ogbourne
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9 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

That’s a low dose levothyroxine for a bloke

Which brand levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands of levothyroxine are not interchangeable

Approximately how much do you weigh in kilo.

Being on inadequate dose levothyroxine will tend to lower vitamin levels

Vitamin levels also tend to drop as we get older

Roughly how old are you

On levothyroxine we need optimal vitamin levels

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

vitamin D too low

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Government recommends everyone in U.K. supplement vitamin D at least daily October to April. Thyroid patients usually need to supplement continuously and at higher dose than typical

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

Don’t start all supplements at once

Start one, vitamin D. Then wait at least 10-14 days to assess before adding another

B12 is too low

Folate could be better

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 a week later add a separate vitamin B Complex 

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...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

Retest full thyroid including thyroid antibodies 6-8 weeks after adding last supplement

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)

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...

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

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

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

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...

10% off code here

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

Ogbourne profile image
Ogbourne in reply to SlowDragon

Hello SlowDragon,

As always, thank you for your helpful answers to my questions.

Brand of levothyroxine is accord.

I weigh 92Gs, which is hard work keeping it from going higher. I am 55 years old.

Have ordered Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You and I will start with this supplement and after 2 weeks add Vitamin B12.

Very interesting to read about the research by Mirhosseini it al. I will aim for 100nmol/L Vitamin D which is the same target as that in the study. The calculator recommends that I take 400nmol/L for 3 months to achieve this target.

Excited to try anything that might make me feel less exhausted.

Will be speaking with my Endo this week and she has told me that she is happy for me to start to start a 3 month trial of T3.

Thanks again.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Ogbourne

The calculator recommends that I take 400nmol/L for 3 months to achieve this target.

I would imagine you meant 4000iu vitamin D daily

Ogbourne profile image
Ogbourne in reply to SlowDragon

Oops, Yes I did.

Bearo profile image
Bearo

There is a lot of advice here on HOW to start taking T3 so that your trial is a success. So if you do get a prescription, do post again to get some advice on this.

Ogbourne profile image
Ogbourne in reply to Bearo

Hello Bearo and thank you for your message.

Initially my GP had agreed to write me a prescription for Liothyronine if my Endo recommended this. A few days later I was called by the surgery and told that my GP could not prescribe it and I would need to ask the Endo for private prescription. I took this prescription to the only two pharmacies in the town where I lived and both wanted approx. £1,300 for Liothyronine 10mcg po BD - 3 months. As I can't afford over £5,000 per year for this medication, I located a far cheaper supply. Although I am concerned over the quality, I have sourced Tiromel (Liothyronine Sodium) - 25mcg (100 Tablets) for £12.00 which will last me for the 3 month trial period. I checked with my Endo and she told me that they should be fine. I've bought them from unitedpharmacies-uk.md which involved a wire transfer to Bulgaria. I don't expect to receive them until next week, but then I'm raring to go!

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