Following advice on here I requested a blood test to check Vit D, B12, Ferritin and Folate levels when having thyroid bloods checked. It appears I am deficient in some things and are awaiting consultation with GP. Could someone advise on best supplements to use and whether it’s safe to take Magnesium and Tumeric supplements to help with sleep problems and joint pains. I am taking Carbimazole currently for Hyperthyroid and don’t want to take anything that is contraindicated.
Also could anyone shed light on why Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody is going up whist T3 and T4 levels are coming down and appear to be responding to Carbimazole and what does this mean?
Many thanks in advance.
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Blossom1573
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Turmeric potentially has many side effects. Ordinary dietary consumption doesn't appear to be an issue, but in supplements, in high doses, there are potential risks.
That is not to say that it might not have benefits as well!
So, what are your FT4 and FT3 levels now? Carbi will obviously 'work' because it reduces/stops production of they hormones by the thyroid. But, if you don't have Graves', if you have Hashi's, the production isn't very high - and isn't what's causing the high levels - and you will rapidly become hypo.
TPO antibodies fluctuate all the time and doesn't usually mean anything. There is no direct relationship between FT4/3 levels and antibody levels. Except that they tend to be higher during an autoimmune attack on the thyroid (if you have Hashi's) when they come along to clean up the traces of TPO leaked into the blood. Nothing to do with T4 or T3.
Thanks for speedy and informative response. Still trying to understand this complex condition. I have not had a health professional confirm diagnosis of Hashimoto's or Graves just acknowledgment of Hyperthyroidism when I was started on Carbimazole. I have another appt with Gp next week.
Wow! Your nutrients are all much too low! Vit D sould be at least 100 - your doctor should be prescribing for that! But he won't tell you about the co-factors you need to take - vit K2-MK7 and magnesium - because he won't know!
Folate should be at least double figure. And B12 should be at least over 75. Your doctor will think the B12 is OK, because it's still in-range. But ideally he should be testing for Pernicious Anemia. But you might want to check out opinions on the Pernicious Anemia forum before doing anything about B12 or folate:
But for folate he's likely to prescribe folic acid, which is not the best form. So, don't take that.
Oh! got distracted and forgot to comment on thyroid results.
Well, things haven't changed very much with T3 and TPOab. The difference in the two TPOab results is negligable and could happen in a very short time, and then go down again. Meaningless.
Your FT3 is still quite high but your FT4 is now at 88% through the range, which is higher than euthyroid, but not too bad. When were these tests done? You do need to keep a close eye on them so they don't go too low.
Thankyou so much for info and advise-much appreciated! Will certainly head over to the Pernicious anaemia forum and get advice from there and bear in mind that Gp will have different opinions and possibly be a little submissive.
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later we would normally say add a separate vitamin B Complex
But that depends ……if GP prescribes folic acid or not
If you’re prescribed folic acid, don’t start B complex until finished folic acid prescription
once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
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 and may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
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) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
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
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 continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Thankyou once again for such an informative response and suggesting all the links providing even more info. It’s a massive help in understanding these complex medical problems and much appreciated. The test was a NHS test.
The Anti Thyroid Drug - Carbimazole is semi- blocking your own new daily thyroid hormone production so we would expect your T3 and T4 to be falling back down into the ranges -
ideally we need your thyroid hormones held at around mid point in the ranges - with the T4 at around 50% through its range with the T3 tracking just behind at around 45% through.
and the AT drug dose should be adjusted down accordingly so that the T3 and T4 do not fall too far through the ranges with you then likely to start to experience the equally disabling symptoms of hypothyroidism.
When one's metabolism isn't running quite right - either too fast as in hyperthyroid or too slow as in hypothyroid - the body struggles to extract key nutrients from your food no matter how well and clean you eat -
and if the core strength vitamins and minerals of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are not maintained at good solid - optimal levels - this can compound your ill health further.
Just for reference - I now aim to maintain my ferritin at around 100 - folate around 20 - active B12 125 ( serum B12 500++) and vitamin D at around 125.
Might be worth getting checked out for Pernicious Anemia - and I can't see a ferritin reading ?
When the thyroid is malfunctioning various antibodies will be overlapping each other - what matters are which antibodies were over range and positive in your initial blood tests and seem to remember we had a positive for Graves TRab reading a few posts back ?
thank you so much pennyannie for such a detailed and informative response. It’s really helpful to know thyroid hormones should be held at around midpoint in the ranges and it’s a helpful guide to see what you aim to maintain levels at. The information provided really helps to make sense of lots of things and is really appreciated.
I previously put on results of Thyroid Peroxidase antibody and TSH receptor antibody test results Thyroid Peroxidase- 67 (0-5.59). TSH receptor. 11.9 (0-3.09). I don’t appear to have had TRAb levels checked?… is this something I should be pushing for?
No - it isn't necessary as you have a TSH Receptor antibody reading is over range and this alone is a positive for Graves - and the medical evidence and all that is needed -
some people see a TRab reading and it is just different wording for the Thyroid Receptor -
others see a TSI reading on the bio markers which is a Thyroid Stimulating antibody reading -
all relate to Graves Disease and a diagnosis can be made on whichever is found positive and over range in the blood.
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