B vit help

[clubby29]

Hi all, had some private bloods done in the eternal search for some QOL. Results were Active B12 84 pmol , ferritin 145 ug/l, folate 7.9 nmol. Sorry no ranges given, but the notes stated that b12 and ferritin ok but folate not good at all. My question is am I better taking folic acid or a b complex to bring this back in line.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

which company did test

You should have ranges on results

Low folate

Recommend supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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 5-6 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

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

Were your thyroid levels good

[clubby29 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for reply.

Test done by Thriva, I had an iron profile and a couple of other things done at the same time. Last thyroid test done by NHS early FEB,

FT4 17, FT3 4.8, TSH 0.01. Levo 150 T3 20

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clubby29]

You should be able to get a pdf of results and ranges somewhere on Thriva website. If can’t find it ….email their help pages

Was thyroid test done as recommended early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

[clubby29 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I’ll have a look. Thyroid test done as above 👍👍

[clubby29 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, got ranges. Folate 10-45 , Ferritin 30-300 , active B12 70-150.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clubby29]

Taking vitamin B complex will help improve B12 too