supplements help?

[Aquariu5]

hi there, does anyone with hypothyroidism take supplements that contain kelp? I’ve had conflicting advice on its use/benefits for hypothyroid sufferers. I’m considering starting Thyroid Support with L-tyrosine and Kelp from Cytoplan, but don’t want it to have an adverse effect. Thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The primary reason for putting kelp into a product is its iodine content. And the iodine content of kelp is quite variable.

Therefore it is not going to be easy to manage your iodine intake if the supplier does not label actual iodine content. And the trouble with that is companies often do not test the actual ingredients, but just look up tables of standard values of nutrients.

(I'm ignoring the issue of whether you do or do not require any additional iodine.)

[Aquariu5 in reply to helvella]

Thankyou for your reply, no I’m not aware that I need any additional iodine. Was just looking for some supplements to help with tiredness and energy improvement. Just for interest I’ve attached the product info. Any recommendations for supplements for a hypothyroid and perimenopause sufferer? Thanks ☺️

Product info

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Aquariu5]

Have a look at this paper:

Commercially available kelp and seaweed products – valuable iodine source or risk of excess intake?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

They quote iodine at 4,469 μg/g in sugarkelp. And there is just over a fifth of a gram of kelp in the product, so in excess of 800 micrograms of iodine. Plus 150 micrograms from the Seagreens. (All very rough approximations.) Therefore, of the order of 1000 micrograms of iodine per capsule.

And bear in mind that if you are taking any thyroid hormones, they inherently contain iodine. (And your need for iodine is reduced because you don't now need to make as much thyroid hormone as you would once have done.)

[FallingInReverse]

Hi, supplements are of course critical to those with under active thyroid, but we need to know a little more about you to give you the right advice.

Can you share more about yourself, are you diagnosed and being treated?

Do you have any blood test results for thyroid or other vitamins/minerals?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Levothyroxine contains all the iodine you need and taking excess iodine can exacerbate hypothyroid symptoms

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG 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.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

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

[Aquariu5]

wow! Thank you all, the information and advice its really helpful. I’m slowly realising that perhaps I’ve not had the checks and follow ups that I should have. I was diagnosed in 2018, and am on 50 mcg of Levothyroxine. But blood tests and reviews have been few and far between. Just been left to get on with it really. I’m going to look into getting a private blood test ( thank you slow dragon) and will leave the supplement idea alone until I get some more detailed results.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Aquariu5]

Like many of us and yes I was one too, you were diagnosed as Hypo, got put on the starter dose, at some point long after you should have been tested your GP probably got round to ordering blood tests.

These came back with TSH somewhere in range, but still too high as you're only on 50mcg. But this doesnt matter nor does the fact the NHS rarely tests anything besides TSH. Your GP will have seen TSH in range and as far as they are concerned job done. Unless you are a very tiny person 50mcg wont be enough.

Thyroid disease is treated appallingly badly. Its actually genuinely shocking that such a common complaint is so misunderstood and mismanaged.

We cant rely on GP's or indeed many Endos to make us well. We have to learn as much as we can, advocate for ourselves and get advice from the forum.