Vitamin/supplements: Can I ask what vitamins... - Thyroid UK

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Vitamin/supplements

Fee52 profile image
10 Replies

Can I ask what vitamins would be useful to try to support healthy thyroid function. I know iron, and vitamin B12 are important, I wondered if a specific Thyriod supplement was useful.

I found this one, does anyone else take this? heynutrition.com/products/t...

Thank you

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Fee52 profile image
Fee52
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

No

Multivitamins never recommended on here

And especially nothing with iodine or kelp in

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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greygoose profile image
greygoose

That is an absolutely terrible supplement! First of all, the iodine. It's not a good idea for anyone to supplement iodine without first testing to see if they need it. Excess iodine can cause all sorts of problems, and taking it won't help a failing thyroid, anyway.

Secondly, it contains Holy Basil which would probably lower your cortisol, which is probably not what you want. Again, prior testing is necessary.

Thirdly, it contains iron which will probably block absorption of everything else, anyway! Total waste of money.

Besides, if you already have Hashi's, it's a bit late to be thinking about keeping your thyroid healthy. No supplement is going to save it. You do, however, need optimal nutrients for your body to be able to use thyroid hormones efficiently. So, we always advise getting the basics tested: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin, and supplementing according to the results. :)

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

The concensus of this group is that we need to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3. Most are likely to be low if not deficient due to the poor absorption caused by low stomach acid in hypothyroidism.

Once we have the results you can make a post here and people will comment and make suggestions for supplements.

Multivitamins usually have low quantities of often poor quality vitamins in mixes that contain things like magnesium and iron that can prevent absorption of the other vitamins.

See link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

There is also a new company offering walk in (includes free blood draw) & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toJaydee1507

Hi Jaydee, is it specifically D3 rather than vitamin D?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply tothyr01d

In what context? Usually when we refer to vitamin D it is D3 we are talking about.

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toJaydee1507

Ah, I wondered if when it was for thyroid it was specifically D3 that was important.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply tothyr01d

I'm going to shamelessly quote from a web page as it explains it well.

Two forms of vitamin D are available in supplements: vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Both can help correct vitamin D deficiency, but most doctors recommend D3 because it is slightly more active and therefore slightly more effective. Vitamin D3 is naturally produced by animals, including humans. Vitamin D2 is the plant form. Using the form made in our bodies is another reason for recommending vitamin D3.

cuimc.columbia.edu/news/wha...

So D3 is the active form of D2.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toJaydee1507

D2 is also the form found in things like milk in the USA which has been subject to ultraviolet.

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toJaydee1507

Thanks Jaydee, it's very kind of you to give such a good quote. As a vegan we find D3 hard to find, though not impossible, so it's good to see it's slightly more active rather than D2 being inactive.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

As a rule of thumb—don’t touch anything with iodine or kelp in it.

Not saying anything others haven’t already said but there’s so much misinformation out there about iodine.

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