TSH and Biotin

[FLHappyGirl 171]

Just wanted to provide some information I only recently became aware of regarding TSH (thyrotropin stimulating hormone). Your TSH is a pituitary hormone that simulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 and T3 which in turn stimulates the metabolism of almost every tissue in our bodies. It’s important!

Most of us who have regular bloodwork done have likely seen it on our lab reports. I’ve had a form of thyroid disease (Hasimoto’s) for years. The last year or two my TSH results have bounced around dramatically. I chalked it up to the rapid weight loss and needing to adjust my meds. Even with adjustments, I didn’t feel like it was accurate. My numbers were off but I felt good and didn’t have any symptoms.

While checking my last results on the patient portal (I go to mayo Clinic) I noticed a new note under the TSH result. It states “Patients consuming high dose Biotin supplements can have analytical interference in this assay. If such interference is present it will yield falsely low results. If results are inconsistent with patient presentation please rule out biotin consumption by the patient.”

My doctor explained that a) it can also result in false highs b) it is typically mega doses that affect the test, not the doses found in Multivitamins and c) it interferes with the result on paper not necessarily the levels in your body. Therefore you could be within range but the test shows a different result. If you were to adjust your meds based on the number (which happens a lot) you may create a true imbalance by accident!

After going off biotin I retested and viola! I’m back in range without any change to my medication dosage.

My primary was unaware (my fault) I was taking mega doses of biotin. I realize now how important it is to tell my doctors EVERY med, even over the counter, to insure they have the entire picture.

Since a lot of WLS patients take Biotin in the hopes of faster regrowth from our Hair loss I thought the info may be useful! I am not saying Biotin is bad for you, it just may interfere with TSH results.

P.S. I don't think the biotin ever did me any good but I figured it couldn't hurt.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Brilliant information!! Thanks for sharing! Glad your TSH is stable and you're feeling great!

[notmyname 591]

I was kind of horrified that I had to tell my surgeon’s office this. Seems like something they should know, given how many bariatric patients have thyroid issues and take Biotin.

[21pilots 19]

Wow I’m so glad I read this! 3 weeks post op and I had been taking Biotin for a couple days now but I am also on thyroid meds because I have no thyroid due to thyroid cancer and have been super anxious about making sure my levels were in the normal ranges and had no idea biotin could make levels off! Thanks

[FLHappyGirl 171]

6 hours ago, 21pilots said:

Wow I’m so glad I read this! 3 weeks post op and I had been taking Biotin for a couple days now but I am also on thyroid meds because I have no thyroid due to thyroid cancer and have been super anxious about making sure my levels were in the normal ranges and had no idea Biotin could make levels off! Thanks

It was explained to me that biotin does not throw your actual levels off, rather mega doses can skew test results. In other words you don’t know if your test results are accurate or not so your doctor will have difficulty adjusting meds properly! Since thyroid meds are usually weight based adjustments will likely need to be made as you lose weight, having inaccurate test results will make the task difficult!

[Frustr8 7,886]

Yeah that does make a lot of sense just discovered I have thyroid nodules but we are at the Watch and See stage still. I feel line a little Teakettle that they're waiting for me to start boiling. The big one on v the left side is just below Operative status. Discovered these when I had a neck Cat Scan, so have I had them all along, are they a consequence of my rapid weight loss, is it simply a case of Growing old or is it from now having a thin enough neck that they became visible ? IDK but I thonk my neck looks like a Ninja turtle🐸 now, one other Bari-pal likens hers to a turkey's🐥 told her as long as she doesn't sprout Tail Feathers she should be cool!

[21pilots 19]

Everyone has nodules in their thyroid usually they are benign just keep monitoring them the only reason I noticed something was wrong was when it felt like someone was choking me then got it checked out. That is so funny you said that about the neck why does it get like that it’s like missing muscle or something?