5 MTHF versus folic acid

[Painful5]

After blood tests (after my missed miscarriage) I was found to be short of folate and extremely low on vitimin D. I was therefore out on 4000 iu vit D per day and told to take a daily dose of 5mg of folic acid.

I opted to take 5 mg of 5 METH instead, since I had read that this was better for celiacs because it does not need to go through several processes before the body can use it.

when I had the blood tests my other vitamin levels were fine, including B12.

I am now reading that 5 METH can cause issues for absorbing other vitamins in the B group, including B13 so I am wondering if I should go back to the 5 MG folic acid instead.

As a side point, also take a good quality Omega 3 supplement and my tests also showed anti nuclear antibodies present at 1:80 homogeneous, which has since turned negative which is a big plus should I conceive again.

Any views on the folate issue gratefully received. Thank you.

 

[Scott Adams]

For this I would go with what your doctor recommends, is that who recommended the 5 MG folic acid? A good B Complex is usually the best approach with B vitamins, but be sure to ask your doctor.

[Elseke]

On 4/29/2024 at 5:43 PM, Painful5 said:

After blood tests (after my missed miscarriage) I was found to be short of folate and extremely low on vitimin D. I was therefore out on 4000 iu vit D per day and told to take a daily dose of 5mg of folic acid.

I opted to take 5 mg of 5 METH instead, since I had read that this was better for celiacs because it does not need to go through several processes before the body can use it.

when I had the blood tests my other vitamin levels were fine, including B12.

I am now reading that 5 METH can cause issues for absorbing other vitamins in the B group, including B13 so I am wondering if I should go back to the 5 MG folic acid instead.

As a side point, also take a good quality Omega 3 supplement and my tests also showed anti nuclear antibodies present at 1:80 homogeneous, which has since turned negative which is a big plus should I conceive again.

Any views on the folate issue gratefully received. Thank you.

 

If you have MTHFR take folinic acid, not folic acid. You can't process folic acid.

[Painful5]

On 5/9/2024 at 6:09 AM, Elseke said:

If you have MTHFR take folinic acid, not folic acid. You can't process folic acid.

Thank you. Never heard of that. Will take a look.

[Painful5]

So I just had another pregnancy loss. What they call a chemical pregnancy this time. I am getting a bit depressed to be honest. I know celiac disease can cause miscarriages but I had thought that over 10 years of careful eating would mean I should be one of those women who can sustain a pregnancy. My doc says it could be chromosomes but he thinks it more likely that my immune system doesn’t work properly and keeps killing my embryos. I just feel I am going further down into a big black hole now.

just had all my bloods redone and all good, including folate, vit D and B12.

Doc prescribed low dose aspirin before but I never really wanted to try that as a celiac. He is now saying I should definitely try taking them next time and if not they may prescribe steroids.

I am not going to take them more than every other day because I have read about the working life of aspirin and I have concluded that it is only necessary daily if you have sticky blood, etc, which I don’t. I will just be taking it for its anti inflammatory effects. Bit miffed that I will have to give up the Omega 3 though 😳

[Scott Adams]

I'm really sorry to hear this, and I can understand your frustration and need to figure out what is going on. I would follow your doctor's advice about the aspirin, and be sure to always take it when you have a full stomach, as it can cause stomach upset when taken on an empty stomach.

I am not sure what your medical insurance covers, but would it be possible for you to see a reproductive endocrinologist? These specialists are experts in fertility and reproductive health issues, and they often help individuals and couples with issues related to conception, hormonal imbalances, and other reproductive system concerns. They have specialized training in obstetrics and gynecology, followed by additional training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

[knitty kitty]

@Painful5,

Sorry about your loss.  

"I had thought that over 10 years of careful eating would mean I should be one of those women who can sustain a pregnancy."

The Gluten Free Diet can be low in essential vitamins and minerals.

Nutritional Imbalances in Adult Celiac Patients Following a Gluten-Free Diet

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8398893/

 

Unfortunately, doctors don't know much about the importance of nutrition, especially in Celiac Disease.

Knowledge of Medical Students and Medical Professionals Regarding Nutritional Deficiencies in Patients with Celiac Disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8224609/

 

The Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease: Critical Insights to Better Understand Clinical Outcomes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10537989/

 

B Vitamins: Functions and Uses in Medicine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9662251/

 

High homocysteine can affect pregnancy.  All of the eight B vitamins and Vitamin C help reduce homocysteine.  

 

A Novel Review of Homocysteine and Pregnancy Complications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8121575/

 

Effects of low-dose B vitamins plus betaine supplementation on lowering homocysteine concentrations...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886420/

 

Hypothyroidism can also affect pregnancy.

Maternal Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Autoimmunity, and the Risk of Miscarriage: A Prospective Cohort Study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229690/

 

Thiamine Vitamin B1 is extremely important in pregnancy.  Eating a diet high in carbohydrates plus malabsorption of Celiac Disease can result in Thiamine deficiency disorders.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

 

Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

 

Thiamine deficiency in pregnancy and lactation: implications and present perspectives

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10158844/

 

Intrauterine Fetal Demise: A Rare Complication of Wernicke's Encephalopathy Secondary to Hyperemesis Gravidarum

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10655897/

 

Descriptive spectrum of thiamine deficiency in pregnancy: A potentially preventable condition

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37458305/

 

Prevalence of Thiamine Deficiency in Pregnancy and its impact on fetal outcome in an area endemic for thiamine deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10256141/

 

Thiamin status during pregnancy

"The occurrence of deficient thiamin status demonstrated an increase with number of previous pregnancies."

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7399809/

 

The Effects of Thiamine Supplementation on General Health and Infertility Treatment Outcomes in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Triple-Blinded Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10875311/

 

Vitamins are good for hubby, too.

The correlation of sperm morphology with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5589690/

 

Antioxidant Supplementation on Male Fertility—A Systematic Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10135082/

 

Hope this helps.

Edited June 4, 2024 by knitty kitty
Typo correction