Replacement dose of thyroid hormones less effective - something else at work?

[Guest guest]

Just had a look on Dr Lowe's site (www.drlowe.com ) and found this:"Some endocrinologists now advocate the use of products containing both T4 and T3, but they recommend a higher T4 to T3 ratio. They prefer a ratio 10 parts T4 to 1 part T3. The lower T3 content of such products renders them far less effective than Armour and Thyrolar. In our clinical experience, the treatment outcome is inferior for patients who use products with the lower T3 content."The ratio in the human body is about 16 to 1. So for a hypothyroid patient to feel better, they need a much lower ratio of T4 to T3 (like 4 to 1 as in Armour), or in other words more T3 for every ug of T4. One would think that the right proportions just to replace those hormones that are lacking would be enough.Does this mean there is something else at work here?The only thing I can think is as the thyroid gland function declines in a hypothyroid patient, the T3 secretion declines proportionally quicker than T4 secretion, meaning more T3 is needed to make this up. Is this true?Jonny

[Guest guest]

Hi Jonny,

Conversion is the problem facing many people which is why so many

people do better on armour - it has a higher ratio of T3 than you

mention here. For T4 to convert to T3 our bodies have to have

sufficient supplies of cortisol and various vitamins and minerals

and the organs and cells involved have to be functioning properly,

sadly not all of us are working properly.

Luv Bella

> Does this mean there is something else at work here?

> The only thing I can think is as the thyroid gland function

declines in

> a hypothyroid patient, the T3 secretion declines proportionally

quicker

> than T4 secretion, meaning more T3 is needed to make this up. Is

this

> true?

>

> Jonny

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jonny,

I have no scientific basis on which to back this up, but as thyroid meds are swallowed

they have to run the gamut of the digestive system, so some are obviously

destroyed. Some folk do prefer to allow the meds, especially Armour to dissolve

under the tongue, so therefore some does transfer directly into the bloodstream.

The ratio in the human body is about 16 to 1. So for a hypothyroid patient to

feel better, they need a much lower ratio of T4 to T3 (like 4 to 1 as in

Armour), or in other words more T3 for every ug of T4. One would think that the

right proportions just to replace those hormones that are lacking would be

enough.

Does this mean there is something else at work here?

Jonny

[Guest guest]

Some NHS doctors don't recommend Armour Thyroid because they believe the amount of thyroid hormone varies between batches and/or they believe the higher ratio of T3 to T4 in Armour could be harmful or cause adverse reactions. The evidence does not support such reasoning and in fact the variation of thyroid hormone in Armour is minimal and well controlled (maximum 5-10 %) as specified by the US FDA

Armour Thyroid does have a higher amount of T3 compared to T4 than the relative amounts of T3 to T4 secreted by the human thyroid gland, however it is well documented that Armour is often more effective and better tolerated than synthetic preparations,This is because the T3 of desiccated thyroid and of thyroglobulin is more slowly absorbed than synthetic T3. Therefore a greater dose of T3 is required to obtain a similar and quick peak and thus speedy action of the thyroid treatment The normal thyroid gland contains approximately 200 mcg of T4 per gram of gland, and 15 mcgs of T3 per gram. The ratio of these two hormones in the circulation does not represent the ratio of the thyroid gland, since about 80 % of peripheral T3 comes from monodeiodination of T4. Peripheral monodeiodination of T4 also results in the formation of reverse T3, which is catorigenically inactive A similar ratio can be obtained by prescribing both Armour and synthetic thyroxine, although clinical response and symptom control should take precedence over a theoretical ideal. Perhaps the ultimate form of thyroxine for difficult patients is whole thyroid extracted, such as Armour thyroid tablets.

Luv - SheilaHi Jonny,Conversion is the problem facing many people which is why so many people do better on armour - it has a higher ratio of T3 than you mention here. For T4 to convert to T3 our bodies have to have sufficient supplies of cortisol and various vitamins and minerals and the organs and cells involved have to be functioning properly, sadly not all of us are working properly. Luv Bella> Does this mean there is something else at work here?> The only thing I can think is as the thyroid gland function declines in> a hypothyroid patient, the T3 secretion declines proportionally quicker> than T4 secretion, meaning more T3 is needed to make this up. Is this> true?> > Jonny> No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.7/1234 - Release Date: 20/01/2008 14:15