thyroid blood test- urgent will coffee affect results?

[Robinface]

hubby having blood tests this morning at 10am can he have a coffee before hand? Not diagnosed with issues but has a goitre

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Better to drink water only if possible

[Robinface in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! Just caught him in time making his white coffee with sweetener! No advice given to fast etc prior to test

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

We have a number of problems.

First, what coffee? A modest black coffee will have a different impact to a large one with milk and sugar.

Second, what tests? Although you say "thyroid", it is quite common for other tests to be done alongside.

Third, lack of adequate research. We do not have a full set of "does consuming xxx affect test yyy".

There are some papers which show an effect from coffee. But they tend to be population studies over time. Not one cup on one day!

Effect of coffee consumption on thyroid function: NHANES 2007-2012 and Mendelian randomization.

Conclusions

Our study showed that drinking <2 cups of coffee per day reduced the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism and drinking 2-4 cups of coffee reduced serum TSH concentrations. In addition, coffee consumption was not associated with the risk of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

europepmc.org/article/MED/3...

Indeed, test yyy from one test supplier might be affected while the same test from another test supplier isn't affected. That is, there are the effects on the body and the potential for effects on the actual assay used.

For an example of a fairly recent paper, see below. And yet that is pretty thin and unsatisfactory even about the specific tests it refers to!

Effect of Black Coffee on Fasting Metabolic Markers and an Abbreviated Fat Tolerance Test

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

I feel it is a case where our ignorance implies that we should play safe and stick to water.

[Robinface in reply to helvella]

Thank you! Caught him in time then- glass of water now! Would have been a mug of white coffee with sweetener! All we know is Gp requesting blood tests because of goitre found on scan- some symptoms possibly- although tricky to know as diagnosed with lymphoma back in July! Thank you for your response

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Robinface]

I feel rotten now! Depriving him of his coffee!

Mind, I have even less of an idea whether sweeteners would affect tests in any way! And there are quite a number available so proper research seems even less likely.

Wishing him the best. Do post again after - I imagine they might offer a fine needle aspiration biopsy.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

He will need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Far to often GP will only test TSH

see what’s tested

Come back new post once you get results

If not had everything tested, then like thousands of U.K. patients you can test privately

For full Thyroid evaluation he needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

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

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

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) and would need to test privately to get diagnosed

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)

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements is he taking

Also VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[greygoose]

You don't say which sweetener but frankly they're all a bad idea.

greenmedinfo.com/blog/bitte...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Robinface in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, have given him information- he will swap back to sugar- only has a little in his coffee or tea! Neither of us drink diet drinks as hate the aftertaste! Thank you

[greygoose in reply to Robinface]

I really don't believe that a little sugar in one's tea/coffee does any harm - far less harm than artificial sweeteners, anyway.