Hi everyone, I have an appointment booked with my doctor next week to discuss this with him but just wanted to get some advice from anyone who may have personal experience.

I had an allergy test (hair sample) done a few weeks ago and received the results back yesterday. One of the things that has come back is that I have deficiencies in Iodine, Iron, Zinc and Vitamin D. Having family history of MS, arthritis and immune system disorders I have a rough idea of where this is heading. So as I'll be 30 in a few weeks I've decided to take full control of it as best I can.

The issue is that a lot of the natural ways of getting those 4 things I have intolerances to, so would need to take supplements to help but I am worried about the effect of taking all of them at the same time.

Does anybody have any advice or experience of supplementing your diet with these either individually or more than one at a time?

Thank you

Who did the allergy test? Was it NHS or a bona fide organisation? Some private set ups have come in for a lot of flack for inaccurate results.

Wait and see what the GP says. If you are deficient in iron and vitamin d, a shop bought supplement might not do the trick. You might have to get a prescription for a stronger dose. See what he/she says and take it from there.

I had allergy tests 30 years ago complete bolloxs costing a fortune from Harley street suggesting I should take a supplement from snails sexual organs
A French surgeon sorted it out one afternoon 20 years ago never had a problem since and it was free

I know nothing, but if you were allergic to a substance whats it doing in your hair sample that merely shows your dietary /drug history not your reaction to it

As for vitamin D do you not like sun light, red meat , iron and seafood iodine/zinc

Pituitary problems, amongst other things, can affect some people's ability to convert certain vitamins D and B12 being the most common ones. Iron as well for women, although it can be dangerous for men to take it in supplements unless under medical supervision. Hereditary factors can also play a part, so that in some cases injections may be required to ensure they are efficiently absorbed. I've never heard of hair samples being used though; it usually requires specific blood tests to assess it properly. If you are genuinely deficient you will be given NHS treatment according to your needs. I have a feeling that injections may be free, but I should imagine that you will pay the usual prescription charge for any vitamin or mineral supplements. I think you will be prescribed an appropriate multi-vitamin supplement in most cases but you will be told if it's cheaper to buy a medically approved one over the counter.

I'm on prescribed Vit D as I was found to be very deficient. It hasn't made me feel any better at all though.

The GP presumably will confirm any deficiencies via a blood test. It maybe worthwhile asking the GP to test for whatever immune system disorders are in your family history. Immune system disorders are rare so they might not think to do so without being told family history. The immune system disorders coeliac disease can cause deficiencies so its worth checking for. As you have a vitamin D deficiency it may also be an idea for your GP to send you for a bone scan to check your bone density, this is also rare in people your age but can occur due to prolonged vitamin D deficiency.

I have a couple of immune system disorders coeliac disease and hashimoto thyroiditis. I also have osteoporosis of the spine and hips although bone density is now improving and should be normal in five years or so. At time of diagnosis I also had anaemia and various other deficiencies. The underlying cause of the various deficiencies and the osteoporosis was the coeliac disease.

Thank you for your replies, I tried to get back here earlier but been rushed off my feet until now.

It was an allergy test carried out through a health shop called the Chinese clinic, I had one done years ago for food intolerances but this is the first time these defeciencies have shown up.

I am currently on my 4th round of blood tests as the one for ESR keeps coming back with a high reading. It went from 32 - 48 and back down to 35, but doctor is not happy until it's below 30. All other tests I've had alongside the ESR keeps coming back as clear so there still a lot of confusion over what's causing it. It's just interesting to have the genetic history I do, plus this dodgy ESR reading and the test coming back with these results which all in some way are related to each other.

Thank you for the advice from everyone. I will raise with my doctor when I'm next there I've heard the horror stories of people put on iron tablets and their changes toilet habits and was worried that having to take a supplements for all the defiencies could be worse than that! However even if it is a pile of bollocka it'll be interesting to see if the doctor has already tested for these.

ESR is just a marker for inflammation; whilst 35 is above the area they like to call normal my current ESR is well over 100. If it is higher than that in combination with a high CRP and white platelet marker it denotes infection. Just having a slightly raised ESR without anything else isn't "dodgy" it could be you're just reacting to something you've eaten or stood next to someone with a bug and whilst you haven't got the bug your system is successfully fighting it off.

Interesting, thank you planets. I realise the ESR is a generic blood test that shows infection but it can mean such a variety of different things depending on the reading that researching can be quite a feat. I'm hoping it's 4th time lucky and we finally have some ideas what's causing it or even another direction to follow. These blood tests were decided when I told my doctor about my nans recently diagnosed B12 deficiency and my mums medical history.

It only denotes infection if you have accompanying raised C Reactive Protein and raised white blood platelets. If your CRP and white platelets are not significantly raised then it isn't denoting infection, it's denoting a very tiny non specific inflammation.
Good luck finding what's causing it, for such a miniscule rise in your ESR it could be caused by aenemia, pregnancy or just getting older. Also the upper sedmintation rate threshold varies from one practice to another so somewhere else 35 would be normal.

I was on a prescription course of Vit D & now I just take the otc ones daily. I also try & spend a bit more time in the sun. I have iron overload disease, so I avoid any supplements with iron. Talk to your gp & be careful of anything this "Chinese clinic" tries to sell you.

I have neuro-muscular problems and am prescribed Vitamin D.
I also put codliver oil in smoothies so there is a natural source as well (and is GP approved)

The dosage is also varied for summer and winter.

I find it to be a life-changing supplement for me. I did once miss a month of taking my daily dose and it resulted in twitching painful muscles, muscle wasting and cramps.

The MS / Vit D link is scientifically proven - the further you go from the equator the risk of MS increases with every line of latitude.

In a recent health programme on TV they said that most dark skinned people in this country would need a daily D supplement. Light skinned people were advised to take it Autumn/Winter.

Absolutely. I would only trust a well known reputable organisation.

Hi

living outside of the UK just watched BBC Iplayer

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06rjn1g/rip-off-britain-food-series-2-reversions-episode-9
Which covered this subject

magnesium is good for overall health so i take that, vitamin c and omega 3. it works for me and I never get sick.