Re: Gluten, Thyroid and Selenium

[Guest guest]

Morning ,

This short history seems to suggest that it was the observation that those

living in mountainous regions were prone to goitre; those on the coast were not.

" The great Chinese alchemist Ko-Hung in about 340 AD recommended an alcoholic

extract of seaweed for goiter, and it seems that the association of goiter with

certain mountain regions was widespread in Chinese medicine from at least the

5th century AD onwards. "

http://hormones.gr/preview.php?c_id=115

(And that story starts around 2700 BC.)

This observation has been widespread - together with terms that mean " mountain

men " being applied to those with goitres.

" Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,

Who would believe that there were mountaineers

Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em

Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men

Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find "

The Tempest, Shakespeare

Rod

>

> Hi Lois - no problem at all, so glad you found it helpful. You mentioned a

video before - was there a video on the page?

>

> I think the study/ article presents just a theory, just fyi... I don't think

people know for sure it's correct. But I'm glad you found it interesting enough

to follow up with your healthcare practitioner and maybe do some tests. Please

keep us posted.

>

> Oh and Rod - agreed about the iodine. It's a slippery slope - but I wonder how

they found out that low iodine causes goiters anyway?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, Rod... quite a find there. Not sure what to make of it. An ancient Chinese

alchemist fooled around with different potions until he stumbled on a seaweed

one that worked? Also sounds like someone somehow figured out iodine was a

component in the thyroid in the 1800's.

And congrats - I think you may be the first to quote Shakespeare on our list.

> >

> > Hi Lois - no problem at all, so glad you found it helpful. You mentioned a

video before - was there a video on the page?

> >

> > I think the study/ article presents just a theory, just fyi... I don't think

people know for sure it's correct. But I'm glad you found it interesting enough

to follow up with your healthcare practitioner and maybe do some tests. Please

keep us posted.

> >

> > Oh and Rod - agreed about the iodine. It's a slippery slope - but I wonder

how they found out that low iodine causes goiters anyway?

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

yes susan, there was a video with a doctor explaining about hashimoto's. it

was rather long, so be prepared to sit for awhile uninterrupted.

i just went on the link looking for dr. lowe's thyro-gold. it says that it's

bovine dessicated thyroid for those requiring T4. do you know anything about

it?

i'd like to know more about it and also to find out if anyone here is now using

it or has used it in the past.

my deepest sympathy goes out to his wife and family for their recent loss of the

doctor who dedicated his life to studying the disease.

thank you susan and anyone else who can share some light on the thyro-gold.

lois

> >

> > Hi Lois - no problem at all, so glad you found it helpful. You mentioned a

video before - was there a video on the page?

> >

> > I think the study/ article presents just a theory, just fyi... I don't think

people know for sure it's correct. But I'm glad you found it interesting enough

to follow up with your healthcare practitioner and maybe do some tests. Please

keep us posted.

> >

> > Oh and Rod - agreed about the iodine. It's a slippery slope - but I wonder

how they found out that low iodine causes goiters anyway?

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so hopefully

others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because with any

desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of thyroid

hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the case of

pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than a human

normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided to make

the bovine formula.

Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better, and others

feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug Thyrolar is

made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3 making the

difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only, synthetic) years ago

and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back. We all respond

differently and have different needs.

> > >

> > > Hi Lois - no problem at all, so glad you found it helpful. You mentioned a

video before - was there a video on the page?

> > >

> > > I think the study/ article presents just a theory, just fyi... I don't

think people know for sure it's correct. But I'm glad you found it interesting

enough to follow up with your healthcare practitioner and maybe do some tests.

Please keep us posted.

> > >

> > > Oh and Rod - agreed about the iodine. It's a slippery slope - but I wonder

how they found out that low iodine causes goiters anyway?

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

Is Thyrolar back on the market?

To the best of my knowledge it has been unavailable for years... Not time to

check right now.

Rod

>

> Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so

hopefully others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

>

> What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because with any

desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of thyroid

hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the case of

pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than a human

normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided to make

the bovine formula.

>

> Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better, and

others feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug

Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3

making the difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only,

synthetic) years ago and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back.

We all respond differently and have different needs.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ah, I didn't know that, Rod. Here is the statement from their site:

Statement from Forest Laboratories Re: Availability of Thyrolar:

U.S. Pharmacopeia, an official public standards-setting authority for

prescription and over-the-counter medicines and other health care products

manufactured or sold in the United States, has mandated new specifications for a

component used in the manufacturing of Thyrolar. As a result, all strengths of

Thyrolar are currently on long-term back order while modifications necessary to

meet these new specifications are made.

Patients should speak with their physician regarding appropriate treatment for

their condition, and check for future updates on the availability of Thyrolar

through the Forest product availability toll-free hotline at .

> >

> > Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so

hopefully others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

> >

> > What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because with any

desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of thyroid

hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the case of

pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than a human

normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided to make

the bovine formula.

> >

> > Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better, and

others feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug

Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3

making the difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only,

synthetic) years ago and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back.

We all respond differently and have different needs.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

That message has been there on the Forest site for over three years now. I

highly doubt that Thyrolar will be available anytime soon, if at all,

remembering how Forest conducts their business. The last time I checked on the

U.S. Pharmacopeia site, they indicated that no new requirements had been made by

them. ISTM, Forest is either reformulating Thyrolar or not at all but saying

there is a back-order. Go figure!

Just one correction though, Thyrolar was never made with the same ratios of T3

to T4 that Armour has. Thyrolar had a smaller ratio compared to natural

desiccated thyroid (Armour or NatureThroid). For people who cannot tolerate the

amount of T3 or T4 in the prepackaged drugs that is where compounding comes in.

I take NDT along with extra compounded T3 that is formulated to stay in my

system longer.

You are right, we are a diverse bunch here. Some of us like you need no T3 and

some of us like me need lots of T3.

Take care,

~Bj

> > >

> > > Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so

hopefully others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

> > >

> > > What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because with

any desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of

thyroid hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the

case of pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than

a human normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided

to make the bovine formula.

> > >

> > > Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better, and

others feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug

Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3

making the difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only,

synthetic) years ago and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back.

We all respond differently and have different needs.

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rod,

There is a 24 hour urine test for iodine as well as an iodine serum test. These

tests can be done without taking any extra iodine. In 2005, I did the iodine

loading test that Dr Flechas recommends, and my result was 30%, they say

it s/b 90% if you are iodine sufficient. That much iodine 50 mgs truly made me

ill that day. Perhaps it was a shock to my body. Anyway, I have been taking

extra iodine/iodide for about six years now, but not the mass amounts that the

pro-iodine users consume daily. If it works for them so be it, but I think each

individual needs to decide that for their self.

Best,

~Bj

> >

> > Interesting article and theory about Selenium deficiency and the

relationship to gluten + malabsorption:

> >

> >

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/gluten-and-thryoid-hor\

mone-is-there-a-connection/

> >

> > Saw they mentioned an Iodine loading test (urine) - anyone have this done? I

don't think I've heard of that in relation to hypothyroidism.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bj,

Indeed - I was largely thinking of the urinary iodine test alongside the loading

tests. Same comment - never heard of anyone being tested for simple iodine

levels.

Thyroid Manager seems to suggest 150 to 600 mcg daily as being reasonable with

bad effects potentially starting with very little more than that.

Absolutely agreed with choose for yourself - but I wish some proponents didn't

seem to forcibly shove it down our throats. :-)

Rod

>

> Hi Rod,

>

> There is a 24 hour urine test for iodine as well as an iodine serum test.

These tests can be done without taking any extra iodine. In 2005, I did the

iodine loading test that Dr Flechas recommends, and my result was 30%,

they say it s/b 90% if you are iodine sufficient. That much iodine 50 mgs truly

made me ill that day. Perhaps it was a shock to my body. Anyway, I have been

taking extra iodine/iodide for about six years now, but not the mass amounts

that the pro-iodine users consume daily. If it works for them so be it, but I

think each individual needs to decide that for their self.

>

> Best,

> ~Bj

[Guest guest]

Hmm, I'm seeing about the same ratio for Thyrolar and Armour here (about 1 part

T3 to 4 parts T4):

http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=45518

(See " Description " at top)

http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=6361#section-12%23section-1\

2

(See " How Supplied " )

It's too bad about another T3 formulation being no longer available.

> > > >

> > > > Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so

hopefully others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

> > > >

> > > > What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because with

any desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of

thyroid hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the

case of pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than

a human normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided

to make the bovine formula.

> > > >

> > > > Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better,

and others feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug

Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3

making the difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only,

synthetic) years ago and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back.

We all respond differently and have different needs.

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I didn't mean for this to be so confusing. I only meant that the ratio is NOT

exact, which I thought you indicated it to be exactly the same when you wrote:

The synthetic drug Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio.

Sorry you went to such trouble to find the links, perhaps they will benefit

others. I researched the ratios a long time ago. Armour has 1:4.222 while

Thyrolar had a 1:4 ratio. This may not seem like much to us. Over time is could

be though.

The Thyroid from Canada that I take called Erfa has a 1:4.375 ratio of T3:T4. It

has 11.11% less T3 per one grain tablet than USA made NDT while only 2.5% less

T4 per grain. Maybe that is why I need an additional 45mcgs of compounded T3 a

day.

All NDT thyroid made in the USA has the same ratio, this is mandated by law. The

difference is the fillers, binders, dyes and other additives.

There is a synthetic T3 drug in the works that will be slow-released so more

people may benefit from it. It may still be quite a few years away though.

Best,

~Bj

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi Lois - this is actually the first I'm hearing about Thyro-Gold, so

hopefully others will chime in. I just looked it up quickly.

> > > > >

> > > > > What I suspect is it's for those who need *more* than T4 - because

with any desiccated animal thyroid you'll be getting all of the other forms of

thyroid hormone - T1, T2, T3. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. In the

case of pigs, which Armour is made from, you get a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than

a human normally makes. I do not know how cows compare, or why Dr. Lowe decided

to make the bovine formula.

> > > > >

> > > > > Some people feel a higher ratio of T3 is what helps them feel better,

and others feel it's the natural vs. synthetic formulation. The synthetic drug

Thyrolar is made with the pig thyroid ratio, so their assumption is it's the T3

making the difference. I tried Armour, Thyrolar, and Cytomel (T3 only,

synthetic) years ago and didn't feel better - just brought my palpitations back.

We all respond differently and have different needs.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>