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Sassy69
New member
I found this on lef.org (life extension website). Life extension "medicine" is not really in the mainstream of medicine so I am not sure I would just dive right into any of the therapies, however you get some information in the content.
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-104.shtml
A couple items from the article:
Barnes Basal Temperature Test
Another way of detecting a possible thyroid deficiency is to take your basal body temperature. Place a thermometer at your bedside, and as soon as you wake up before you step out of bed, place the thermometer under your arm for at least 3 minutes. If you are T3 deficient, you will find your basal temperature to be below 97.8°F (normal throughout the day is 98.6°F). If your first-thing-in-the-morning temperature is consistently low, it likely means that your basal (resting) metabolic rate is also low.
Record the time, date, and temperature every morning for 2 weeks to show your doctor. In addition to following up with blood tests, your doctor can determine the patency of your deep tendon reflexes, especially the time it takes your Achilles tendon to recover after first elicitation.
Synthroid
Conventional treatment calls for the oral replacement of deficient thyroid hormones. A synthetic form of T4 (Synthroid, Levothroid, Levothyroxine) is most often administered. Treatment, especially in older people, begins with low doses of thyroid hormone because serious side effects may occur with too large a dose. The dose is gradually increased until TSH levels in the blood return to normal. The medication must usually be taken for life.
Synthroid is the third most popular drug prescribed in the United States, being taken by 8 million people. The drug was introduced in 1955 without FDA approval. Recently the safety, stability, and efficacy of this drug have come under fire. In April 2001 the FDA denied Abbott Laboratory's request that Synthroid be allowed to bypass a new drug application and be declared "generally recognized as safe and effective." Instead the FDA stated that Synthroid "had a history of problems with potency and stability" and required Abbott to file the necessary application and study results by August 14, 2001, for official review and approval. Final review and approval was granted by the FDA in July 2002. A condition of approval was that Abbott is required to "develop an analytical method for the determination of impurities and degradation products in the drug substance and the drug product" by July 31, 2003.
Several studies have questioned the effectiveness of levothyroxine and other synthetic T4 drugs for various treatments of thyroid disorders. One study evaluating its ability to suppress the number of nodules in patients with multinodular euthyroid goiter showed limited effectiveness in reduction of nodules. This study also indicated it was ineffective for body weight reduction in obese patients (Imbrogno et al. 2001).
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
Iodine
Tyrosine
Selenium
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex
Soy
Natural supplements for thyroid problems include vitamin A; vitamin B complex; B12; and the vitamins C, and E; as well as coenzyme Q10; and especially the minerals magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc, all of which can be found in ample amounts in the Life Extension Mix. Deficiencies of any of these minerals can prevent the conversion of T4 to T3 and should be corrected. Sufficient protein iodine and especially the amino acid tyrosine are necessary to make T4 in the thyroid gland.
Treatment of autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's) and euthyroid sick syndrome is based upon the underlying disorder (refer to the Autoimmune, Arthritis, and other relevant protocols for more information).
Iodine
Thyroid hormones are made by adding iodine molecules. Hence, a dietary deficiency of iodine can be a cause of hypothyroidism. Iodine is found in kelp and other seaweeds and seafood. It is also available in iodized salt. Those who suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease, may want to avoid taking extra iodine because this disorder is not due to iodine deficiency and will not be of much help. For some it may irritate the thyroid and make matters worse.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a precursor of thyroid hormone and the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. A deficiency of tyrosine leads to hypothyroidism and low adrenal function. The recommended daily amount of tyrosine is about 1 gram perday for adults (Marz 1997).
Selenium
Selenium assists in removing toxins from the body through the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Selenium is readily available in many foods, such as asparagus, grains, garlic, and mushrooms. Many agricultural areas, however, are extremely deficient in selenium. Research has linked selenium with thyroid function. One study found that the combination of both iodine and selenium deficiency was particularly toxic to the thyroid gland (Contempre et al. 1995).
A recent study in Belgium used selenium (20-60 mcg perday) to treat 18 children with congenital hypothyroidism. Supplementation with selenium caused a 74% increase in plasma selenium and normalized the levels of TSH. The authors concluded that selenium improves the thyroid hormone feedback system and improves the conversion of T4 to active T3 (Chanoine et al. 2001).
Another article described the use of selenium in three cases of hypothyroidism in children. After only 4 weeks of supplementation, they saw a marked improvement of all clinical symptoms and a return to normal metabolism (Pizzulli et al. 2000).
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 36 elderly subjects conducted in Italy found a linear correlation between selenium levels and T4 (as well as the ratio of T3:T4). Reduced conversion of T4 to T3 causes an overt hypothyroid condition that is common in the elderly. The main result of the study was a significant improvement in selenium levels and a decrease in the T4 levels in selenium-treated subjects (Olivieri et al. 1995).
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA, a hormone that enhances the body's metabolic functioning, may also be deficient in individuals with hypothyroidism (Tagawa et al. 2000). A DHEA blood test should be administered to achieve optimal dosing (see the DHEA-Pregnenolone Precautions in the DHEA Replacement Therapy protocol for more detailed information).
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex by Enzymatic Therapy combines thyroid tissue, the amino acid tyrosine, and synergistic trace minerals that must be present for endocrine gland functions, especially the thyroid. The thyroid gland needs iodine and L-tyrosine to produce hormones that control the body's metabolism. The trace minerals manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum included in the formula are involved with specific enzymes linked to endocrine glandular processes.
Soy
The effect of soy on thyroid function is currently a controversial topic. Some believe that soy increases metabolic rate and thyroid function. Several recent articles, however, have noted problems with people taking soy supplements.
One study identified the mechanism of soy's effect on thyroid function. Genistein and daidzein, the isoflavones in soy, inhibited thyroid peroxidase by acting as alternative substrates (Divi et al. 1997).
Soy-based infant formulas have been associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune thyroid disease and diabetes when compared with breast-fed infants (Fort et al. 1986; Fort et al. 1990).
Soy supplements should be avoided by hypothyroid patients because they increase the amount of thyroxine needed to attain clinical effect (Bell et al. 2001; Jabbar et al. 2001).
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Some foods contain goitrogenic substances that prevent the utilization of iodine. Goitrogens are found in sweet potato, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, rutabaga, rapeseed oil (canola), cassava, pine nuts, mustard, millet, soybeans, and peanuts. The actual content of goitrogens in these foods, however, is quite low, and cooking inactivates them.
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-104.shtml
A couple items from the article:
Barnes Basal Temperature Test
Another way of detecting a possible thyroid deficiency is to take your basal body temperature. Place a thermometer at your bedside, and as soon as you wake up before you step out of bed, place the thermometer under your arm for at least 3 minutes. If you are T3 deficient, you will find your basal temperature to be below 97.8°F (normal throughout the day is 98.6°F). If your first-thing-in-the-morning temperature is consistently low, it likely means that your basal (resting) metabolic rate is also low.
Record the time, date, and temperature every morning for 2 weeks to show your doctor. In addition to following up with blood tests, your doctor can determine the patency of your deep tendon reflexes, especially the time it takes your Achilles tendon to recover after first elicitation.
Synthroid
Conventional treatment calls for the oral replacement of deficient thyroid hormones. A synthetic form of T4 (Synthroid, Levothroid, Levothyroxine) is most often administered. Treatment, especially in older people, begins with low doses of thyroid hormone because serious side effects may occur with too large a dose. The dose is gradually increased until TSH levels in the blood return to normal. The medication must usually be taken for life.
Synthroid is the third most popular drug prescribed in the United States, being taken by 8 million people. The drug was introduced in 1955 without FDA approval. Recently the safety, stability, and efficacy of this drug have come under fire. In April 2001 the FDA denied Abbott Laboratory's request that Synthroid be allowed to bypass a new drug application and be declared "generally recognized as safe and effective." Instead the FDA stated that Synthroid "had a history of problems with potency and stability" and required Abbott to file the necessary application and study results by August 14, 2001, for official review and approval. Final review and approval was granted by the FDA in July 2002. A condition of approval was that Abbott is required to "develop an analytical method for the determination of impurities and degradation products in the drug substance and the drug product" by July 31, 2003.
Several studies have questioned the effectiveness of levothyroxine and other synthetic T4 drugs for various treatments of thyroid disorders. One study evaluating its ability to suppress the number of nodules in patients with multinodular euthyroid goiter showed limited effectiveness in reduction of nodules. This study also indicated it was ineffective for body weight reduction in obese patients (Imbrogno et al. 2001).
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
Iodine
Tyrosine
Selenium
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex
Soy
Natural supplements for thyroid problems include vitamin A; vitamin B complex; B12; and the vitamins C, and E; as well as coenzyme Q10; and especially the minerals magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc, all of which can be found in ample amounts in the Life Extension Mix. Deficiencies of any of these minerals can prevent the conversion of T4 to T3 and should be corrected. Sufficient protein iodine and especially the amino acid tyrosine are necessary to make T4 in the thyroid gland.
Treatment of autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's) and euthyroid sick syndrome is based upon the underlying disorder (refer to the Autoimmune, Arthritis, and other relevant protocols for more information).
Iodine
Thyroid hormones are made by adding iodine molecules. Hence, a dietary deficiency of iodine can be a cause of hypothyroidism. Iodine is found in kelp and other seaweeds and seafood. It is also available in iodized salt. Those who suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease, may want to avoid taking extra iodine because this disorder is not due to iodine deficiency and will not be of much help. For some it may irritate the thyroid and make matters worse.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a precursor of thyroid hormone and the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. A deficiency of tyrosine leads to hypothyroidism and low adrenal function. The recommended daily amount of tyrosine is about 1 gram perday for adults (Marz 1997).
Selenium
Selenium assists in removing toxins from the body through the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Selenium is readily available in many foods, such as asparagus, grains, garlic, and mushrooms. Many agricultural areas, however, are extremely deficient in selenium. Research has linked selenium with thyroid function. One study found that the combination of both iodine and selenium deficiency was particularly toxic to the thyroid gland (Contempre et al. 1995).
A recent study in Belgium used selenium (20-60 mcg perday) to treat 18 children with congenital hypothyroidism. Supplementation with selenium caused a 74% increase in plasma selenium and normalized the levels of TSH. The authors concluded that selenium improves the thyroid hormone feedback system and improves the conversion of T4 to active T3 (Chanoine et al. 2001).
Another article described the use of selenium in three cases of hypothyroidism in children. After only 4 weeks of supplementation, they saw a marked improvement of all clinical symptoms and a return to normal metabolism (Pizzulli et al. 2000).
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 36 elderly subjects conducted in Italy found a linear correlation between selenium levels and T4 (as well as the ratio of T3:T4). Reduced conversion of T4 to T3 causes an overt hypothyroid condition that is common in the elderly. The main result of the study was a significant improvement in selenium levels and a decrease in the T4 levels in selenium-treated subjects (Olivieri et al. 1995).
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA, a hormone that enhances the body's metabolic functioning, may also be deficient in individuals with hypothyroidism (Tagawa et al. 2000). A DHEA blood test should be administered to achieve optimal dosing (see the DHEA-Pregnenolone Precautions in the DHEA Replacement Therapy protocol for more detailed information).
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex
Thyroid & L-Tyrosine Complex by Enzymatic Therapy combines thyroid tissue, the amino acid tyrosine, and synergistic trace minerals that must be present for endocrine gland functions, especially the thyroid. The thyroid gland needs iodine and L-tyrosine to produce hormones that control the body's metabolism. The trace minerals manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum included in the formula are involved with specific enzymes linked to endocrine glandular processes.
Soy
The effect of soy on thyroid function is currently a controversial topic. Some believe that soy increases metabolic rate and thyroid function. Several recent articles, however, have noted problems with people taking soy supplements.
One study identified the mechanism of soy's effect on thyroid function. Genistein and daidzein, the isoflavones in soy, inhibited thyroid peroxidase by acting as alternative substrates (Divi et al. 1997).
Soy-based infant formulas have been associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune thyroid disease and diabetes when compared with breast-fed infants (Fort et al. 1986; Fort et al. 1990).
Soy supplements should be avoided by hypothyroid patients because they increase the amount of thyroxine needed to attain clinical effect (Bell et al. 2001; Jabbar et al. 2001).
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Some foods contain goitrogenic substances that prevent the utilization of iodine. Goitrogens are found in sweet potato, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, rutabaga, rapeseed oil (canola), cassava, pine nuts, mustard, millet, soybeans, and peanuts. The actual content of goitrogens in these foods, however, is quite low, and cooking inactivates them.
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