Thyroid Drug (T4) increases bone loss

[Guest guest]

http://www.naturalnews.com/032459_bone_fractures_thyroid_drugs.html.

NOTE: No mention of the active

thyroid hormone T3 or natural desiccated porcine thyroid hormone as being a

cause of bone loss, as the BTA/RCP and many endoprats would have us believe is

a cause. They are talking about LEVOTHYROXINE ONLY. Tell that to your doctor.

Luv - Sheila

(NaturalNews) Hypothyroidism is a fairly common disorder, caused

by low levels of thyroid hormones. With the availability of either natural

hormones taken from animals, or synthetic hormones (levothyroxine), doctors now

treat the disorder by replacing the missing thyroid hormones. A recent study

for the British Medical Journal found that elderly people with high

levels of the artificial hormone may have an increased risk of bone fracture.

Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are critically important to health because they affect

the metabolism of

every cell in the body. Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism

of glucose to release energy, as well as affecting protein synthesis and

metabolism of fats.

Because the body creates thyroid

hormones by using iodine,

a healthy level of iodine in the diet

is important (http://www.naturalnews.com/023107_i...). In addition to the

importance of iodine for general metabolism, there is also evidence that iodine

in the diet can help in avoiding cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/023107_i...).

The British Medical Journal study was done at the Women's College

Research Institute in Toronto, where researchers looked at 213,500 people aged 70 or over.

Patients in the study received at least one prescription for levothyroxine (the

synthetic hormone) between 2002 and 2007. Results showed a significantly

increased risk of fracture

in people who were either taking or had recently taken levothyroxine.

As people grow older, there is a greater likelihood of diminished levels of

thyroid hormones, with possibly as many as 20% of older people receiving

treatment for hypothyroidism.

But as doctors treat the disease by administering hormones, one of the possible

side effects is a

decrease in bone density.

In some cases, bone density

may reach the point that broken bones become more likely.

A researcher from the British Medical Journal study said that the

condition needs more study, as not enough is known about the link between

thyroid hormone and bone density in the elderly. A study published

in 2010 on the link in

elderly men did not find a decrease in bone density, but a study the same year

in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism did find such a

link in postmenopausal women. A 2010 review article looking at

drug-induced osteoporosis also noted high doses of thyroxine as a possible

cause of low bone density in postmenopausal women.

Patients who are receiving hormone therapy should have hormone levels checked

regularly, to see that levels do not grow too high, or for that matter too low.

Some patients may not

wish to take hormones acquired from animals, but the synthetic

form of the hormone, levothyroxine, like any artificial drug, has the potential for

side effects.

One of the researchers, Dr Lorraine Lipscombe, said the study showed a need to

more closely monitor medical levels " in this vulnerable population " .

Sources for this article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13...

http://www.drugs.com/levothyroxine.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

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Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032459_bone_fractures_thyroid_drugs.html#ixzz1Mslp4vRJ