Vitamin B complex and blood tests

[jodary]

I’m just wondering how long to stop my vitamin B complex before my blood test. I’ve read it can affect folate, ferritin and thyroid blood tests and don’t want to waste my medichecks blood test . What would be the minimum, a week? , or it is it better to have a longer gap for accuracy. And can I continue my Vit D ? Any advice would be welcome, thank you

[helvella Administrator]

If you are thinking about biotin, have a look here:

helvella - Biotin supplementation and testing

A short article about how and why biotin can affect blood tests. Includes information about how to avoid any problems.

Last updated 04/08/2024.

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

If you are supplementing folate (which is likely included in your B complex), then what do you want to know?

Could be you want to know how much folate you have right now - achieved by supplementing? Or how much you'd have if you stopped for a few days?

I'm afraid I do not know how much of a false peak you might see if you do not stop, if any.

I don't think ferritin would be affected by the B complex.

[jodary in reply to helvella]

That’s a very good point, yes I have been supplementing to improve folate , so if I stop it would probably be lower again. I was worried also about a false Tsh T4 but I suppose if the improved folate might potentially improve T3 conversion then so I would need to see that also. Thank you

Th

[helvella Administrator in reply to jodary]

A lot ends up being how you interpret the results, how you use them.

If you see folate as being OK without stopping it, then you might well be on a sensible dose. Check again, of course, because it could continue to rise.

[jodary in reply to helvella]

Yes makes perfect sense thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 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) and possibly separate B12

[jodary in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you will get separate folate ,