What could cause this series of deficiencies and low levels?

[Harridan1981]

Over the years I have collected a series of deficiencies, namely:

low folates
low iron (borderline anaemia)
underactive thyroid (docs keep putting my thyroxine dose up)
pernicious anaemia (on 8 weekly jabs)

Could there be an underlying cause? Docs don’t seem overly fussed, but I’m curious.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease that can also be linked to autoimmune thyroid problems and can definitely cause low iron, folate anything that can't be absorbed properly because the villi are damaged in the duodenum

Have they tested you for coeliac disease? Not sure exactly how thyroid issues might be related, but iron, folate & b12 deficiencies could mean there's something gastric related - so you're not absorbing these from your food

I agree, pernicious anaemia, some thyroid conditions, coeliac disease and also type 1 diabetes can cluster in families, (probably one or two other things I'm forgetting) so there is some genetic predisposition to developing one or more of them.

Definitely worth checking for coeliac disease, and if present treating it should help with managing everything else but don't expect it all to be "solved" by that, either.

Agree with testing for coeliac!

the Majority of people with slightly low levels of vitamins and minerals it’s dietary. Do you take any supplements? Do you drink a lot of milk/ tea as they can bind to nutrients and stop absorption

I’d suggest working on optimising gut health to help with vitamin absorption. What’s your diet like?

I lack intrinsic factor. It’s a hereditary thing and it presents like this.

An underactive thyroid is associated with vitamin deficiencies. I have to supplement to keep my levels optimal. You need to address the low folate (you should be on 5mg a day for 4 months) - especially important as you have b12 deficiency and folate and B12 work together.

Low iron will also not help your thyroid as it can affect your ability to convert T4 to the active hormone T3. Try taking 210mg of ferrous fumerate 3x a day with vit c (to aid absorption and reduce constipation).

Do not take supplements within 4 hours of taking your levothyroxine.

Are you taking your levothyroxine on an empty stomach? You should take it 30 mins to 1 hour before food and drinks (other than water). Coffee in particular affects absorption.

Coeliac is a possibility here as PPs have said - low vitamin levels and possibly not absorbing your levo?

An underactive thyroid is not a deficiency. Your thyroid isn't producing enough thyroid hormone, probably because you have an autoimmune disease called hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroiditis - this is the leading cause of an underactive thyroid. It is more likely that you have hashis because you have pernicious anaemia (PA). PA is another autoimmune disease that stops your stomach producing intrinsic factor which in turn prevents you from absorbing B12. When you have one autoimmune disease you are much more likely to have another.

Being female! And not being able to get enough iron from your food. Take iron supplements - chelated iron. With orange juice. Will sort you out hopefully.

You have autoimmune disease they never travel alone you tend to collect more as you get older. Currently I have 5 being investigated for my sixth.