Thyroid, Adrenal Fatigue & Supplements

[PillJunkie]

I was interested to read a recent post regarding supplements and the timing of taking thyroid meds if one is taking certain supplements.

I had a test in April which produced the following results:

Ferritin 214 ug/L; range 30 - 518

Vit b12 active >150 pmol/L; range

Vit D 160 nmol/L; range 50-250

I imagine that I don't need to take Iron tablets, Vit B12 or Vit D. But am I okay to take Vit B Complex?

I also take Adrenal Cortex 250mg & DHEA 25mg per day. for my Adrenal Fatigue. I still wake up feeling anxious with dizziness and a brain fog so was looking at Adrenal Cortisol XL supplement. This contains:

Potassium 5mg; Zinc 20mg; Manganese 1mg; Chromium 100ug; Yeast 20mg; Ashwagandha Extract KSM66 200mg (apparently equivalent to 2400mg of Ashwagandha!); Camu Camu 55mg; Holy Basil 120mg; Rehnannia 25mg; Rhodiola Rosea 100mg.

I tend to buy these supplements when I'm feeling things aren't working. I imagine that it's lack of Cortisol in the morning that's my problem. Does anybody feel that this supplement will be of benefit?

I've already decided to take my first thyroid meds 4 hours after my antidepressants, adrenal fatigue meds and my supplements. I also take my second dose of thyroid meds 4 hours before my night-time antidepressants.

Any views?

[greygoose]

I don't like the sound of that supplement. It's full of adaptogens. And adaptogens are tricky things because they react differently with different people. But, in any case, Holy Basil will lower cortisol. So if your cortisol is already low, with Adrenal Fatigue, Holy Basil is the last thing you need.

[PillJunkie in reply to greygoose]

That's great, greygoose, thank you. Two other supplements I forgot to mention:

CoQ10 (Ubiquinone Coenzyme) and another made up of Biotin 1000ug; Zinc 20mg; Selenium 55ug.

Anything negative here in respect of Adrenal Fatigue or Hypothyroidism?

[greygoose in reply to PillJunkie]

Well, nothing wrong with CoQ10, zinc or selenium - provided it's the right form of selenium! - even taken together. But I'm not convinced they're going to do anything for your adrenals.

Adrenals need lots of B vits, vit C, potassium and salt. Have you heard of the Adrenal Cocktail? Worth a try:

health.com/adrenal-cocktail...

As I do not like orange juice with salt in it, I've tended to translate that into a foodie version: orance juice, two bananas and a hunk of feta - which is very salty, and bananas have potassium and a load of other stuff. I find that quite an agreeable breakfast. Plus I take a B complex, a lot of vit C with my iron and quite a lot of salt on my food - by some people's standards, anyway.

[PillJunkie in reply to greygoose]

Thank you once again, greygoose.

No, I haven't heard of the Adrenal Cocktail. I have a daily smoothie including a large handful of Kale, likewise Spinach, a banana, ginger, nuts and seeds, four fistfuls of frozen berries, whey powder and milk. I also take B Complex so perhaps a little more salt would benefit?

[greygoose in reply to PillJunkie]

Well, whatever turns you on. Not sure I'd want to add salt to that. Do you get much salt in your other meals?

[PillJunkie in reply to greygoose]

Yes, I think I do get a fair bit. Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to PillJunkie]

You're welcome.

[humanbean]

You're taking Adrenal Cortex to raise your cortisol and yet Ashwaghanda, Holy Basil, and Rhodiola Rosea will reduce your cortisol. I've never heard of Rehnannia, so I don't know what that does.

If you want some ideas on what your supplements are actually doing :

drlamcoaching.com/adrenal-f...

Have you ever done any testing to find out what your cortisol levels actually are? It isn't always obvious whether cortisol is high or low without testing. Based on lists of symptoms I was convinced (without testing) that my cortisol was low at one time and started trying to raise it. I ended up almost homicidal, I was so angry for no reason, and that was when I was supplementing for just two weeks. It turned out my cortisol was actually over the range when I tested.

The best test for cortisol is a four-part saliva test, and the best one I know of is the Regenerus test, although sadly the price has gone up by 50% in the last few months :

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

You can also get tested by Genova Diagnostics (GD) but the procedure for doing so is more complicated than it needs to be because GD refuse to deal directly with patients :

gdx.net/uk/products/adrenal...

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

You can also get cortisol tested in blood or urine. I have not come across any urine tests so don't know anything about them. The blood test can be done but doesn't measure the same thing as the saliva test.

Please avoid the Medichecks Saliva Cortisol Test. It is really poor. I don't know if Blue Horizon does cortisol testing.

[PillJunkie in reply to humanbean]

Thank you humanbean

Yes, I've stopped taking those supplements now. Trouble is that my anxiety levels have increased. Apart from that, most of my symptoms point to low cortisol. When I first started taking my morning brain fog, dizziness, etc disappeared for only a week.

I've had a saliva test and this showed low levels in the morning and higher levels for the rest of the day. A single blood test, taken in the morning, showed cortisol levels at the lower end of the range.

Thank you for the links; I will check them out.

[PillJunkie in reply to humanbean]

Hello again humanbean. I read Dr Lam's website with interest, but came across an issue that varies from expert to expert. Dr Lam recommends Ashwagandha and Rhodiola for Adrenal Fatigue as adaptogens. I think I will reintroduce them as I've been feeling very fatigued and anxious since stopping them.

Do you have strong feelings otherwise?

Many thanks.