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Do Iron Supplements Interfere With The Effectiveness Of Levothyroxine And Vitamin D3?
Hi, I have been to iron supplements for the last 3 months because i saw i have low ferritin level - 30. My iron was normal and my TIBC normal, but i m having severe hair loss so I started taking iron 2 pills of 18mg in the early morning .I also have Hashimoto s disease which I have had since 2008, but i didn t think my hair loss is from the Hashimotos,because my TSH and antibodies were normal. 5 days ago i got my positive pregnancy test and today i got my lab results: My TSH is now up to 3.9 ( 3 months ago 0,5), but normal antibodies, my iron total is high 211, ferritin 60, and my vit D25 is low - 28, although i have been taking everyday vit D3 - 4000 IU for more than 4 months. One year ago vit D25 was 33 without taking any vit D3. 3 months ago i was taking Levotiroxin 100 every other day and 75 every other day, and after my result of TSH=0,5 I lower the dosage to 75 mcg every day. Please give me any advice what should i do now to keep my pregnancy at good condition. I know it is dangerous to have high TSH levels during pregnancy. I just stopped taking iron pills - may be they somehow interfere with my other medicines -Levotiroxin and vit D3. Should i take vit D3 more that 1000IU which I have in my prenatal vitamins or take more? Today I switch to my previous dosage of Levotiroxin 3 months ago -100/75 every other day. I appreciate your help. Thank you!
Wed, 10 Mar 2021
Hi,
Iron supplements will cause a reduced absorption of Levothyroxine from the intestine and hence, low levels of thyroxine in the body. Therefore, if we need to take both these products, they should not be taken together, rather at a difference of at least 3-4 hours to minimize this effect. Some observations have been seen that iron and vitamin D levels have Positive effect on the absorption of each other.
However, Studies do not confirm any relationship between iron and vitamin D levels. Also no interaction has been reported between Levothyroxine and vitamin D. Due to low levels of Vitamin D, you may increase your dose of vitamin D up to 60,000Iu weekly under guidance of your doctor.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Satnarain Bansal, General & Family Physician
Iron supplements will cause a reduced absorption of Levothyroxine from the intestine and hence, low levels of thyroxine in the body. Therefore, if we need to take both these products, they should not be taken together, rather at a difference of at least 3-4 hours to minimize this effect. Some observations have been seen that iron and vitamin D levels have Positive effect on the absorption of each other.
However, Studies do not confirm any relationship between iron and vitamin D levels. Also no interaction has been reported between Levothyroxine and vitamin D. Due to low levels of Vitamin D, you may increase your dose of vitamin D up to 60,000Iu weekly under guidance of your doctor.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Satnarain Bansal, General & Family Physician
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