Hi All
I am trying for a baby and I have been told to take folic acid amongst a few other vitamins.
I have found a pregnancy vitamin supplement however it has 150mcg of Iodine in it.
I understand Iodine is not good for those with hypothyroidism and we do not need it BUT my future baby will rely on my Iodine intake during the first 12 weeks.
Is 150mcg of Iodine going to make much of a difference to me or is it ok because it is a low dose?
Thanks
Emma
150 mcg iodine is not a small dose. It is the normal RDV. And, if you're taking 100 mcg levo, you are already getting about 65 mcg from that. Plus what you get from your food, so you'd possibly be doubling your intake.
A pregnancy vitamin supplement is a multi-vit by any other name! Don't be fooled by the blurb. And multi-vits are never a good idea. The only good idea where supplements are concerned is to get your nutrients tested and take what you need, and only what you need. More is never better, despite what it might say on the label! So, start by getting vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and iodine if you're worried you might not be getting enough (unlikely), and then post your results and ranges on here and people will advise. But don't go filling yourself up with stuff you don't need, it won't help you get pregnant and could be dangerous. 
Thank you for your response! I saw online that 1,100mcg so just assumed 150mcg was a low dose.
My Vitamin D is now within normal range after supplementation. My Folate and Ferritin is within normal range but on the low side of normal so I am looking at options supplementing but I can't take tablets (very grateful that my levothyroxine are small tablets!!). I am struggling to find Folate & Ferritin options for pregnancy that are in the format I want and I noticed some pregnancy vitamins are gummies which would suit me but they all seem to have Iodine & Biotin in them.
After some digging, I don't believe I am getting sufficient Iodine in my diet because I don't eat fish, eggs and very very little dairy (I have one bowl of kefir every other day). I stay away from Gluten as much as I can - I have a bit of Sourdough every now and again but not often.
I didn't realise there was 65mcg in Levothyroxine so that is good to know but for pregnancy, the recommended amount of Iodine is 220 -290mcg which I definitely would not be getting.
I had an Iodine test from the company Gettested back in August 2023, it was a urine test and what came back was that I had a "mild Iodine deficiency", see results below:
56.09 ug (Reference 100 - 199)
My GP refuses to listen to me about these online tests because there have been a few times whereby I have tested myself for various things using Forth and Medichecks and the results would indicate I am low on something but the NHS would get a different result.
Recently, Medichecks indicated I was low on B12 (I posted my results here for help) but when my GP did a blood test on me 2 weeks after, my B12 was "well within range" (my result with NHS was 481ng/L - Reference (197-771).
I still get Medichecks tests for my Thyroid as I believe the results of these have been pretty consistent with my NHS tests.
Sorry for the long read!!
previous post 3 months ago with vitamin results
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D all inadequate
Have you increased vitamin D dose from 1000iu
Are you now taking daily separate B12 and vitamin B complex
And significantly increased iron rich foods in your diet
You need to retest 6-8 weeks after adding last supplement
A multivitamin won’t be nearly enough to improve vitamin deficiencies
Pregnancy guidelines
NICE guidelines that if hypothyroid or subclinical you should see endocrinologist BEFORE TTC
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
See pages 7&8
btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...
Also here - dose increase in levothyroxine as soon as pregnancy test confirms conception
cuh.nhs.uk/patient-informat...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Low ferritin, low thyroid levels and miscarriage
preventmiscarriage.com/iron...
Low iron and hypothyroid
endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...
Folate and B12 and Neural tube defects and autism
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
ec.bioscientifica.com/view/...
Hi SlowDragon
Thank you for your response and for those links that have been very useful.
My GP tested me not long after I posted those results and the NHS have said that my B12 was actually "well within range" (see my post above to GreyGoose).
I have been supplementing Vitamin D and I am now within the normal range. Not optimal but have increased my dose and will test again next month.
My folate and ferritin are still low. As I am now trying to get pregnant, I thought I really need to get myself sorted with some supplementation however, I am struggling to find powder, spray, gummies or liquid options that do not contain Iodine or Biotin. I struggle with swallowing tablets. I just about get my Levothyroxine in me and they are tiny.
I am also worried that I am not getting enough Iodine in my diet for my future baby. I don't eat enough Iodine rich foods and a recent urine test indicated I had a deficiency (see post above to GreyGoose).
There’s nothing wrong with taking biotin. You just need to stop 5-7 days before testing
So a good quality vitamin B complex would be ideal for low folate and low B12
Active B12 was extremely low 3 months ago
Active B12 - 39 pmol/L (Normal Range 38 - 188)
Highly effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges - just melt under tongue
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
vitamin B complex
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, but does have strong taste and bright yellow…may stain your teeth) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
iron
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
List of iron rich foods
prunes are apparently a good source of iodine
And good for constipation
Thank you.
I am not deficient in B12 - my Medichecks result 3 months ago was incorrect, My GP tested me and I was well within normal range however my folate and ferritin are low side of normal so definitely worth supplementing. I will check out those links you sent. Thank you.
I am still unsure about Iodine though. If I am deficient in Iodine - is taking an Iodine supplement ok in pregnancy?
My last Iodine test results (Urine test):
56.09 ug (Reference 100 - 199)
Thanks
Emma
Your Active B12 on Medichecks 4 months ago was extremely low at
Active B12 - 39 pmol/L (Normal Range 38 - 188)
Any active B12 result below 70 is considered low/suspect as explained in that post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
and here
forthwithlife.co.uk/our-ser....
Serum B12 via NHS was borderline
my B12 was "well within range" (my result with NHS was 481ng/L - Reference (197-771).
Generally recommended thyroid patients maintain serum B12 over 500
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Serum B12 result can also be misleading with Paradoxical B12 deficiency
b12oils.com/paradoxical.htm...
Suggest you look at good quality daily vitamin B complex. This will keep B vitamins in balance and improve B12 levels
What was your most recent vitamin D result?
How much vitamin D are you taking
Are you also taking a separate magnesium supplement in evening (or afternoon) at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine
The NHS test with my B12 was only 1 week apart so my GP told me that the Medichecks one was not to be trusted.
I will take a b12 supplement to be sure because my diet is largely vegetarian. I eat meat maybe once a week sometimes less.
What are your thoughts on my Iodine supplement though because this is my biggest concern right now. I am definitely deficient and I need to know if taking 100mcg - 150mcg is ok?
Thank you
How long ago was iodine test
How much levothyroxine were you taking at the time
75mcg levothyroxine is low dose unless you are extremely petite
Being on inadequate dose levothyroxine will result in lower vitamin levels due to lower stomach acid
Low vitamin levels results in poor conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone). So you get high Ft4 but low Ft3 …..higher Ft4 tends to lower TSH making it harder to get necessary dose increase in Levo
Optimal vitamin levels
Vitamin D at least over 80nmol and 100-125nmol may be more beneficial
Active B12 - 70 minimum, over 100 possibly better
Serum B12 over 500
Folate top third of range
Ferritin at least around 70
Just seen this. My iodine test was in August last year. My diet does not include a lot of iodine rich foods at all.
I take Vitamin D and K2 spray - 75ug daily. I was very deficient before but due to retest next week when kit arrives.
My iodine test was in August last year. My diet does not include a lot of iodine rich foods at all.
How much levothyroxine were you taking then
I have been on 75mcg since January 2023.
I am petite. I am 5ft 4 and around 8 stone in weight.
thanks
Ask GP to refer you to endocrinologist to discuss low iodine
Or increase seafood in your diet
Radioactive iodine treatment uk
Iodine kelp supplement
Iodine Supplement
IODINE!!!
IODINE SUPPLEMENT FOR DEFICIENCY IN HASHIMOTOS
