Thoughts on thyroid labs please

[Noelnoel]

Hi all

32 year old son seems well enough but with a tendency to gain weight although he’s not obese. He’s reasonably active. Not on thyroid replacement

He has core nutritional deficiencies despite eating very well but working on correcting these, as per advice on here

Blood drawn 2pm, so TSH likely lower than a before 9am draw

TSH 1.62 (0.35 - 5.5)

FT4 14.8 (10.5 - 21) 40.95%

FT3 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5) 40%

TPOab 34 (0 - 60)

It all looks less than ideal to me

Thank you for your thoughts and ideas

[SlowDragon Administrator]

He has core nutritional deficiencies despite eating very well but working on correcting these, as per advice on here

What were results and how long ago

Have you retested these since

he needs vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels tested alongside thyroid at next test

Test early morning, ideally before 9am

Stop any supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before test

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon

These were done in July 2020 at the same time as thyroid panel

B12 379 (211 - 911)

Folate 5.93 (> 5.38)

Ferritin 49.5 (22 - 322)

Vit D 89.5

He wanted to address nutritional status to see if thyroid levels improved. Supplementing has been inconsistent hence not testing since but last six months he’s been pretty good at taking various things so we’re hoping to see change for the better

As old as they are, what are your thoughts on his thyroid numbers

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

So you need to retest vitamin levels at minimum annually

Ideally every 6 months

So he definitely needs to Test FULL thyroid and vitamin levels

If considering supplementing iron need full iron panel test first BEFORE considering supplements

And essential to retest iron and ferritin 3-4 times a year if taking iron supplements

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Test iron levels early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

If taking any iron supplements stop 5-7 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Exactly what vitamin supplements is he taking

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for all the info and reminders

So you need to retest vitamin levels at minimum annually

This he would’ve done had he been consistent in taking them. Now that he is, he’ll retest after the holidays

His iron panel indicates the need to supplement iron, so he has been

Interested to know your thoughts on his old thyroid numbers. I’m looking forward to seeing the latest ones to see if the support he’s been giving his gland has paid off

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

I appreciate the thyroid lab report is not of date but curious to know what you think about it because to me those numbers suggest a sluggish gland

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

Well B12, folate and ferritin all far too low

Vegetarian or vegan?

Presumably been working on improving since then

Thyroid needs good vitamin levels

Come back with new results once he gets them

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks

Yes, his core nutrient levels are being addressed to support his thyroid.

Apologies if I wasn’t clear, I meant what do you think of his old levels. Just curious but if you don’t feel qualified to say, that’s fine

Will post the new ones for comment when he gets them was interested in what you thought of his thyroid levels

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Noelnoel]

Impossible to say if thyroid levels are a bit low because of low vitamin levels

Or

If vitamins are low because thyroid is struggling

First step is retest

Consider testing BOTH thyroid antibodies as well at next test

If both are negative…..

Then consider an ultrasound scan of thyroid

[Noelnoel in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

Yes, agreed, impossible to know but to have someone else say: low, struggling reassures me it’s not just my thyroid paranoia and he really does need monitoring

Thanks again

[Wwwdot]

Hi Noelnoel

All I can share is my experience. Up to being diagnosed as B12, Vitamin D etc deficient, I was hardly eating apart from a small meal a day yet I gained 1.5 stone. Once I began supplements for B12 and vitamin D I lost the 1.5 stone without trying. Even now I am eating much more with increased energy and weight stable. I would suspect vitamin D as it’s considered to be a hibernation trigger ie low Vit D, going into winter (hibernation), reduce metabolic rate and store fat - I am not a medic, an engineer, so a very simplistic explanation of my understanding!

Ironically, I suspect if your done increased vitamin D and ate more then he may lose weight - as long as healthy foods not just sugar and carbs.

🤗🤗🤗

[Noelnoel]

All I can share is my experience. Up to being diagnosed as B12, Vitamin D etc deficient, I was hardly eating apart from a small meal a day yet I gained 1.5 stone

I certainly know what that feels like to at one point carrying an extra 4st!

I would suspect vitamin D

I see what you’re getting at, it makes sense but even with his levels already at 89.5?