HELP WITH LOW VITAMIN RESULT PLEASE

[DoeStewart]

Good morning , I have just had the results of my Medichecks blood test back. Bloods taken as per protocol suggested on forum, bloods taken at 10am as earliest appointment available. I had 78ths thyroid removed 35 years ago and take 100mcg Levo, usual brands are either Accord or Mercury Pharma, both brands suit me well. I take Vitamin D + K2, B complex( I only take 1 tablet but think this needs upping to suggested dose of 2 per day) magnesium an hour before bed. I don't eat red meat but eat a healthy balanced diet containing pulses, beans etc...I excercise 3 times a week and walk the dog every day usually and normally feel quite fit and well - I am 71 years of age.

These are my results, blood draw was 22nd January

TSH. 0.249. ( 0.27 - 4.2)

FT3. 4.4. (3.1 -6.8)

FT4. 20. (12 - 22)

FERRITIN. 76. (30 - 332)

FOLATE. 12.5. (7 - 35)

B12 POSITIVE. 82.8. (37.5 -187.5)

VITAMIN D. 102. (50 - 200)

THYROGLOBIN ANTIBODIES. 17.8. (0 - 115)

THYROID PEROXIDASE. 11. (0 - 34)

ANTIBODIES

Any advice appreciated 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 continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

Did you stop B complex week before test

Did you take a separate folate instead of

Ferritin might be better nearer 100

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary

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

You Ft3 is a bit low as you know from previous posts

Improving vitamin levels a bit more might improve conversion rate

[DoeStewart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes B complex stopped a week before my blood test. No seperate Folate taken. Should this only be taken when not taking B complex? Should I take a seperate B12 too? How can I raise my Ferritin please? Yes I thought my FT3 was a bit low and am hoping if I can get the vitamin levels up then this will also improve. Would you take the recommended 2 tablets a day of the B Complex insread of one? Any advice appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DoeStewart]

Should this only be taken when not taking B complex?

Yes

Personally I take Igennus B complex single tablet 5 days a week and separate Jarrow methyl folate 2 days

And same folate in 4-5 days before blood test

But everyone is different

You could experiment with taking 2 Igennus per day

[DoeStewart in reply to SlowDragon]

That is the same B Complex that I take. Can I ask why the Jarrow methyl folate for 2 days? Is that to increase/maintain Folate levels? So, stop the Folate as well as B Complex before further tests. Any advice on how to increase my Ferritin levels please?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DoeStewart]

You need to stop vitamin B complex 3-5 days before any blood test (because B complex contains biotin)

Those 3-5 days before take daily folate instead

Can I ask why the Jarrow methyl folate for 2 days? Is that to increase/maintain Folate levels?

Yes

[DoeStewart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. What will increase my Ferritin?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DoeStewart]

Iron rich foods

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week. Red meat most days, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

[DoeStewart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply. Well. I won't have any trouble eating dark chocolate but I don't eat any red meat and hardly any poultry so the liver and patè is a difficult one. I do eat plenty of pulses and beans and lots of vegetables and I will start having orange juice too. My ferritin has increased from my previous test but it's obviously slow work to bring it up to 100.