Hi all! Curious if anyone can advise please- I am fatigued (really struggle at work), brain fog, aches and pains - have been taking HRT for few months but not cured it! Also stable levothyroxine for many years and have Psoriasis although mild. Wondering if I should ask GP for further investigation for b12 and folate as low ish - unsure of exact range for ACTIVE B12 as there’s not much info on the net. The range above suggests ok but I’ve read optimal levels should be upward of 400pmol…..
Thank you!!
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Ajom
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With B12 there are 2 types of test. Serum B12 which you would need a fairly high number above 500. The one you have had dne is an active B12 test and has lower numbers so above 75 is optimal. Yours is only just at that level though so likely you would benefit from supplementing.
Your folate is a different story and very low in range, almost deficient.
You could cover both bases with a good methyl/active type B complex which would help keep all the B's in balance. Some suggestions below:
Thyroid wise your numbers aren't yet optimal either and will be contributing to fatigue.
Free T4 (fT4) 18.8 pmol/L (12 - 22) 68.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 4.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 27.0%
Your conversion to FT3 isn't great but may yet improve with supplements and a higher dose of Levo.
Most people feel well when their TSH is at or just below 1 so you have room for an increase of Levo.
Ferritin should be around 90 - 100 for best use of thyroid hormone. Suggest increasing iron rich foods in diet and eating them often. Chicken livers, pate, red meat etc
If you have an approachable GP I would suggest going back to them to get serum B12 and serum folate redone before you supplement. Once you supplement you will skew the results and should you have an absorption issue it will likely then not get picked up. It may not get picked up anyway, but best to try first. You can have a cellular deficiency with any level of B12 or folate so testing is far from clear-cut. Do you take anything else - such as methotrexate for the psoriasis, which would lower folate?
thank you for your reply, I’m not on any medication for psoriasis, I have already started supplementing so maybe too late - my GP wasn’t interested when I showed them the low folate level - just advised to eat more greens!
See how you feel with your supplements then. I found that the different types of vit B12 and folate (B9) made quite a difference to me, but I know that isn't the case for everyone. If you don't seem to be improving you could try a different form (as well as the greens!). Best wishes.
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