I began writing this article prior to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which made me put it to one side.
However, given some new ideas on the connections between thyroid patients with low vitamin D, and between low vitamin D and Coronavirus (Covid-19), I felt I needed to release it now.
There is a strong correlation between thyroid patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and the presence of low Vitamin D levels. This has been known by thyroid patients for years and many of us supplement with Vitamin D (including myself), as a result of this knowledge. The connection between low Vitamin D and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is especially well known. I have also written about this in my books.
However, here is a relatively new piece of research that confirms the Hashimoto’s and Vitamin D connection:
“Correlation Between Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis–Related Thyroid Hormone Levels and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D”
Guanqun Chao, Yue Zhu and Lizheng Fang
Front. Endocrinol. 14 February 2020 https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00004
URL to full article: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00004/full
Some of the takeaway conclusions from the research are:
“Patients with HT present with a reduced 25(OH)D level, and TSH is an independent risk factor for HT. TSH is negatively correlated with 25(OH)D levels. FT3 and FT4 levels were positively correlated with 25(OH)D levels.
So, they are saying that higher TSH is correlated to lower Vitamin D. They are also saying that higher FT3 and FT4 are correlated to higher Vitamin D. I very much suspect that it is NOT the FT4 that is really correlated but the active hormone FT3.
Now, in addition to the above, there is increasing evidence that those with LOW Vitamin D may be more susceptible to the Coronavirus and may possibly be subject to poorer outcomes.
Please watch this video by Dr. John Campbell in the UK:
Until more is known about the connections between low Vitamin D and Coronavirus it does make sense to supplement with Vitamin D3 if you are known to be low in it, or you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Be careful if you have known kidney issues, and in this case consult your own doctor first.
I take 2,500 IUs of vitamin D3 each day and I am definitely continuing this even though the sun is coming out more. I want as much protection from Covid-19 as possible. Many thyroid patients take 5,000 – 10,000 IUs of Vitamin D if they know they are low in this important vitamin.
Some people believe that it is important to take Vitamin K2 also if you are supplementing with high doses of Vitamin D3. I recommend doing your own research on this.
For completeness, I include another post on Coronavirus and hypothyroidism that I wrote recently, which did indeed already have the advice to take Vitamin D3:
https://paulrobinsonthyroid.com/hypothyroidism-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
I hope you found this helpful.
Stay well and stay safe!
Best wishes,
Paul
so do you advise to take K 2 with vitamin d3 or not? I am low in Vit d and b12
If you plan on taking vitamin D3 at 2000-3000 IUs or more for a reasonably long time then yes I would definitely take it with K2. In fact this is what I do myself.
See my blog on B12 also. It might be helpful – you can search for it easily with the spyglass symbol.
Take care.
Paul
Dear Paul, over the past 6 years I have scoured the certificates of analysis of the suppliers of menaquinone MK-7 (the great partner of D3), and found discrepancies between the European, American, and Asian producers. All quoted their percentages of cis and trans isomers. The cis is useless! The pharmacy I trust imported from Asia in a concentration of 21.45% trans-isomer 78.55% cis-isomer. I complained and they switched to another importer (also from Asia) who submitted a certificate of analysis with “All Trans” but did not mention any % of Cis. My question is if all trans” really means 100% trans! I would really appreciate your opinion.
As far as I know, only Norway has K2 with 100% trans.
The US has improved, but it is still 55%.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Hi Gionei,
Actually, I have no idea whether ‘All Trans’ means 100% or not.
Sorry. Good luck on in your investigation.
Best wishes, Paul
Dear Paul,
Thank you so much for providing all of this information. Over the last 27 years I have read so many books trying to figure out “what is wrong with me”. Your CT3M book is so well written; it stands out in the pack!
I am in the process of experimenting with CT3M to help with hypocorticalism as evidenced by symptoms and the 24-hour saliva test.
Today I’ve been compiling notes from the book and also from your beautiful website.
I have extremely high TgA and TPO antibodies and all of the DIO SNPs, plus methylation defects, but I want to ask you if you have any experience or knowledge on how my homozygous VDR bsm SNP might affect what is considered “normal” vitamin D levels along with all these other factors?
i’m not sure if you’re familiar with the Marshall protocol, but it is of interest to me particularly because I have this polymorphism. I’ve also been influenced by the work of Morley Robbins. Both of these protocols recommend NOT using supplementary vitamin D. The Marshall protocol actually implements a complete abstinence of any vitamin D including from sunlight for a complicated, but plausible reasons.
What I understand about the VDR bsm SNP is that it can result in a low 25-D and a high 1,25-D because of a higher innate conversion rate. If doctors are only testing 25D, versus both 25-D and 1,25-D, then the assumption is made that the patient is low in vitamin D when this is not the case.
Being in a bit of a thyroid and adrenal crisis right now, I don’t even know what to think. But I am so grateful for your kind written and easily assimilable information and am wondering what YOU think or know about VDR bsm.
Also, when you reference divided doses of T3, if you say 2-4 “daily” doses, is that including or excluding the dose that is taken one to four hours prior to waking?
Again, thank you so much!
Elizabeth McCraw
Hi Elizabeth,
Sorry I don’t know anything about your vitamin D related Snp. I’d also be careful about not treating low vitamin D with the more straightforward supplementation method – which often just works very well.
As for multi-dosing of T3, the CT3M Handbook is a companion book to Recovering with T3. The full protocol for using T3 is in Recovering with T3 and it also covers CT3M (just not in the same level of detail as the handbook). 2-4 doses includes the CT3M dose. Most typical T3 dose timings are: CT3M dose, mid-late morning dose, mid to late afternoon dose. But I would read the blue book – it is far more comprehensive.
I do 1-1 coaching if you get completely stuck.
Best wishes, Paul