this is my folate level from my tests

[Kimmi01]

I take folic acid 5mg, b12 2000, and vitamin d which I think is 1000 daily. Are these ok?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Multi vitamins are not generally recommended on the forum. It’s better to supplement individual vitamins as/ when required.   SlowDragon will be able to give further input on this.

I like to take B vitamins in a morning, at least 2 hours away from levothyroxine

With iron supplements there should ideally be a 2 hour gap between these and any other supplement and a 4 hour gap with thyroid medication.

Vitamin D is fat soluble, so ideally with fattiest meal of the day.

You may find this link helpful

webmd.com/vitamins-and-supp...

Photo added of your supplement

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Which B12 supplement are you taking? Your level needs to be over 75 on this range.

Folate & D3 are good, well done.

What was the ferritin result?

The multi you have is very low dose, cheap ingredients that are not likely to help you. I'd ditch that.

[Kimmi01 in reply to Jaydee1507]

The b12 is currently a solgar methy-something (sorry - it’s upstairs, I’ve just come down, but I’m sure you know what I mean). It’s a sublingual. So I still have a little improvement needed here, thanks so much.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Kimmi01]

The Solgar sublingual seems to be cyanocobalmin which is the inactive form of B12. I'd recommend switching it with either one of these that contain the active form that your body can use more easily.

cytoplan.co.uk/vitamin-b12-...

amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Boo...

Once you finish the folic acid it would help you to add a B complex.

B complex suggestions: Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[greygoose]

Can someone tell me if there’s anything in this that I should be concerned about.

Yup. Calcium and iodine.

Iodine is not recommended for hypos, and you will be getting quite a bit from your thyroid hormone replacement. And as your thyroid is not making thyroid hormone anymore, you need less, not more. Over-dosing on iodine is not a good idea.

Doubtful you need calcium. If you're taking vit d that will increase your absorption of calcium from food. Over-dosing on calcium is not a good idea, either.

Calcium supplements are not well absorbed at a cellular level, and tend to build up in the arteries and soft tissues.

[Kimmi01 in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks a lot - good to know

[greygoose in reply to Kimmi01]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ditch the multivitamins

Instead take daily vitamin B complex

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement

As your Active B12 is just over 70 you may only need the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective 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 supplements

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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 can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

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)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Kimmi01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much, I’ll get reading.

[Mostew in reply to SlowDragon]

I thought Cytoplan was good make . Their b extra has folic acid . Why is foliate better?Also thought it OK to take b and iron together.

So easy to think we are doing good and finding out not !!!

[Kimmi01 in reply to Mostew]

I know, it’s a bit like wandering blindfolded through a forest. Luckily we have some very knowledgeable people to draw from 😁

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I assume your folic acid is prescribed (as that high a dose is prescription-only in the UK)?

Why does your prescriber think you need that much?

I think your image says ">7" (greater than 7). And your 45 isn't just more than seven, it is almost seven times seven!

I suggest you have a read of the link below. It is from the USA so a few little things might need interpretation.

Folate

Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/F...

[Kimmi01 in reply to helvella]

I don’t actually know. I was prescribed this maybe 2+ years ago and it’s been on my repeat prescriptions ever since. Yes I’m in the uk. I’ll stop taking that now as well. Thanks - I didn’t really understand the ratio and I only really see the dr’s now for blood tests.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Kimmi01]

It is possible you need some folic acid/folate. But 5 milligrams is usually a fairly short-term dose - a few weeks or months.

If you stop taking Folic Acid Tablets

Do not stop taking Folic Acid Tablets without consulting your doctor.

Do discuss with your prescriber. Don't just take my pointing out a questionable dose as telling you to stop taking it. I'm saying it is surprisingly high and is questionable!