desiccated thyroid Archives - Page 2 of 9

Dear Erfa Canada: Stop this nonsense and change your desiccated thyroid back!!

Not again.

It appears that one more time, a manufacturer of what was once a very good natural desiccated thyroid product has ruined it.

In 2009, thyroid patients whose lives had changed in major and positive ways thanks to Armour, a brand of natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) made by Forest Labs, saw their hypothyroidism come right back. Why? Forest, in all their wisdom, decided to raise the cellulose, lower the sucrose, and make Armour a much harder tablet. And somehow in all that change, patients reported all their hypothyroid symptoms now returning. It was a disaster.

As a result of the above, thyroid patients moved to other natural desiccated thyroid products, and Erfa of Canada was one. And oh did patients love it. It was made like the old Armour, and we could also do it sublingually–a method many of us like. Erfa calls their NDT product simply “Thyroid” and it has always come in sizes of 30 mg, 60 mg and 125 mg.

Fast forward to 2014, and patients who have been doing wonderfully on Erfa are now reporting a major return of their hypothyroid symptoms!

And what’s the scuttlebutt we hear from Dr. Henri Knafo, the Medical Director for Erfa Canada?? That they changed the facility from which the tablets were made but not the ingredients. Really??

This is particularly disturbing for European patients whose lives have changed in positive ways thank to NDT, and know the inherent problems with T4-only.

All too many European doctors and their esteemed medical organizations are clueless about the efficacy of Natural Desiccated Thyroid and turn their backs on prescribing it. Like too many American and Canadian doctors, they worship the ground that T4-only medications unfortunately walk on, and fail to see the widespread problems that thyroid patients have on T4-only. So patients suffer. But luckily, thyroid patients in Europe had been pleased about being able to find Erfa in a few places and thus, see their lives change in major positive ways.

But that has now changed for European Thyroid Patients thanks to this latest egregious change in Erfa’s Thyroid, and the situation is horrific for patients once again, just as it was in 2009 when Forest changed Armour.

What can you do??

If you were once doing wonderfully on Erfa, and now see a return of your symptoms, email Erfa’s Medical Direction here: henri.knafo@eci2012.net Spell out how you were BEFORE the change, and what is going on SINCE the change. And email him multiple times, if necessary. Make it clear. Make it often.
Post here what has happened to you on the “reformulated” Erfa. This is a widely read blog post and website for informed thyroid patients as well as doctors.

In the meantime, if you need to move over to another brand…or if you CAN change over where you live….here are your options for better thyroid treatment.

PLEASE POST THE LOT NUMBERS of the bottles of which your symptoms returned!

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UPDATE May 12, 2014: A gal from Sweden heard from Erfa today, and they are admitting there have apparently been a bad batch or batches. I’ll keep you updated.

UPDATE May 15, 2014: Dr. Knafo has posted the following:
Dear all,

As you know we are currently investigating all the complaints that I received and I would like to ask for your help in order to complete the investigation.

1. Do you have a lot number and exp date written on the bottle of Thyroid ? If so please give it to us.

2. Can you tell us what strength(s) you bough (30, 60 or 125mg) ?

3. Also please mention what pharmacy you bought the product from.

Once this information is received we can go forward with the investigation. Please feel free to email me if you have other questions

Dr Henri Knafo, MD, M.Sc, B.Sc

Email : Henri.knafo@eci2012.net

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* Watch for daily informative postings on the STTM Facebook page.

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* Need to talk to other patients? Talk to Others page. You’ll also see many other great groups who don’t bash other groups (I hope), care about patient experiences and wisdom over “opinion”, and can be friendly.

* Do you have the STTM books?? You HAVE to be informed to get well.

* Learn why Synthroid or other T4-only meds by themselves are not the way to go in your thyroid treatment.

May 8th 2014 533 replies

A hopeful new article proposing that adding T3 to thyroid treatment is the way to go!

(This post was updated in 2015. Enjoy!)

In a recent article by thyroid patient Mary Shomon, there was mention of an interesting article by Dr. Wilmar Wiersinga that came out this year in the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology titled “Paradigm shifts in thyroid hormone replacement therapies for hypothyroidism.” And I find this article fascinating.

I’m going to break it down a bit and add more important observations that I’ve not seen expressed elsewhere and which are important, because the truth stands out about T4-only and decades of patient experiences.

In the abstract summary of his article, he states:

Evidence is mounting that levothyroxine monotherapy cannot assure a euthyroid state in all tissues simultaneously, and that normal serum TSH levels in patients receiving levothyroxine reflect pituitary euthyroidism alone.

Informed thyroid patients can only shout Hallelujah!!

But actually, the evidence has been there all along…and the medical profession has not been listening!

For over 50 years since T4-only was pushed upon thyroid patients in the early 1960’s (not the 1970’s mentioned in the actual article), we haven’t done well on levothyroxine. But when we came into our doctors offices and complained of those pesky symptoms of continued hypothyroidism while on levothyroxine, the replies from our doctors have ranged from “You need to exercise more and eat less”, to “it’s just your age”, to “It’s part of being a busy mother” to “Here’s a prescription for an anti-depressant/statin/BP med”….on and on.

My own mother was the classic example. She as put on Synthroid in the early 1960s in her forties. And from that time on until she died in her early eighties still on Synthroid, she paid continual and growing problems: chronic depression, rising cholesterol, heart problems, weight gain, body stiffness, inability to stand for long periods, poor stamina, dry hair and skin, and problems with her cognitive abilities. And today, informed patients know that all those symptoms are classic symptoms of continued hypothyroidism—all common in far too many patients on T4-only in their own degree and kind…sooner or later.

Stop the Thyroid Madness is the direct result of thyroid patients gathering in groups on the internet by the turn of the 21^st century and proclaiming T4-only has only served to make them sicker!

Dr. Wiersinga also states in his abstract:

Levothyroxine plus liothyronine combination therapy is gaining in popularity; although the evidence suggests it is generally not superior to levothyroxine monotherapy, in some of the 14 published trials this combination was definitely preferred by patients and associated with improved metabolic profiles. Disappointing results with combination therapy could be related to use of inappropriate levothyroxine and liothyronine doses, resulting in abnormal serum free T4:free T3 ratios.

That is a bit confusing to say “evidence suggests it is generally not superior to levothyroxine monotherapy”. What about the clinical presentation of patients shown every day in the offices of doctors over the past 50+ years? Why have so many thyroid patients on levothyroxine for example, been put on anti-depressants, statins, BP meds, pain meds and more?

The Medical Dictionary defines “clinical presentation” this way: The constellation of physical signs or symptoms associated with a particular morbid process, the interpretation of which leads to a specific diagnosis.

Why has there been such a gap between what a doctor learns in medical school /continuing education vs. the clear clinical presentation by millions that underscores how poorly T4-only really has been?

As far as those “disappointing results” which Dr. Wiersinga mentions, informed thyroid patients have the answer: low iron and cortisol issues–both issues which all-too-many levothyroxine patients acquire due to being a poor treatment, and which either T3 or natural desiccated thyroid will reveal. Or, the patient is held hostage to the TSH lab test, leaving them underdosed, and again, many acquire either low iron and/or a cortisol problem.

Dr. Wiersinga concludes in his abstract:

However, in selected patients, new guidelines suggest that experimental combination therapy might be considered.

We agree and bravo!!

But Informed thyroid patients have a strong reply: why limit a better treatment to only “selected patients”?? Why continue to put each and every thyroid patient on one of five thyroid hormones, which more than 50 years have revealed has been an abject failure in too many, sooner or later?

Why not put the majority of your thyroid patients, not a “selected few”, on a medication which gives back the exact same hormones that one’s thyroid would be making in the first place, aka Natural Desiccated Thyroid Hormones? “Selected patients” should only refer to those who may need T3-only since they could have a conversion problem.

The full article also describes three paradigm shifts, plus a proposed fourth one:

1) 1891, when the real gland (sheep at the time) was first used to treat hypothyroidism.

2) 1960 — 1988, when desiccated thyroid use declined and levothyroxine use increased

3) the 1990s, when it was reported that T3 was needed after thyroid removal (but wasn’t pursued)

(See Chapters 1 and 2 in the revised STTM book for more excellent information)

And the 4^th paradigm shift might occur, he explains, when those of us with poorly functioning thyroids could see regeneration from embryonic stem cells, as outlined in a 2012 study. Pretty exciting!

But I think a 4th paradigm shift has already occurred! A growing body of doctors have changed the way they treat hypothyroidism, and it’s by prescribing natural desiccated thyroid. As a southerner would say “Bless their little souls!!”

Until the possibility of stem cell treatment of our hypothyroidism becomes a reality, which may not be soon enough, we all hope to see better understanding by our physicians about what treatment really hasn’t worked well, and what treatment really does.

i.e. doctors need to return to the observation of “clinical presentation”

Adding T3 to our treatment, and especially with natural desiccated thyroid, has changed lives. And we can at least shout “Bravo” to Dr. Wiersinga for positively proposing that Endocrinologists consider the fact that perhaps, T4-only is NOT the way to go and adding T3 just might be for very good reasons. And by the way, thyroid patients also know that the TSH lab test is as much a failure as T4-only.

Seize the Wisdom!

Yours truly,

Janie A. Bowthorpe

Post Script: The full article can’t be found in most places yet, but here is one place where the charge is less than others if you want to see it: http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038%2Fnrendo.2013.258

March 19th 2014 37 replies

An Open Letter to All Physicians from a Nurse about thyroid treatment

A Thyroid patient who is also an RN was shocked to see the contents of a letter that a patient’s doctor had sent out to this patient. It was filled with terrible inaccuracies about thyroid treatment, she exclaimed, and she was horrified. No wonder so many thyroid patients are exasperated with their doctors!

So she compiled this excellent letter, refuting several comments made by this doctor, but directing it to ANY doctor who holds these false views.

Take the time to share this on your Facebook pages, your blogs, to your doctor, you name it. Spread the word as we work to Stop the Thyroid Treatment Madness!!

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An Open letter to physicians regarding the use of “Pig Thyroid Hormones”

I am writing this letter in response to any physician’s stance against the use of any forms of Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) hormones as replacement for inadequate thyroid hormone levels. I will attempt to include links to medical-journal/peer-reviewed/scientific-based information to help you catch up on the latest in thyroid treatment and information.

I know that you, as a physician, have very limited time when it comes to researching various information on treatment protocols. I acknowledge that you were given limited training on thyroid diagnosis and treatments during your medical school programs, as well as in internship and residency programs, and have likely had to rely on the information provided by Pharmaceutical sales reps.

As such, I believe that your views are unfairly skewed and not fully fleshed out towards the use of T4-only medications such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, and others.

1) Regarding your assertion that Synthroid/T4 only medications are “bio-identical” in structure and thus, are an “adequate replacement” for a thyroid that makes 5 hormones (T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin)

Please review the following photos, showing the chemical structure of human thyroxine (T4) and the chemical structures of T4-only medications such as Tirosint and Synthroid: (source: Synthroid Manufacturer’s Full prescribing information). As you can see below, there is a great difference between the molecular structure of Synthroid and human thyroxine.

And below, in the top photo, is the human thyroxine (T4) molecule (Source: Chemical and Engineering news: https://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8325/8325thyroxine.html) Compared that to the T4 molecule found in Nature-throid, bottom photo, which is one of several commonly-prescribed forms of Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) medication. (source: Nature-throid prescribing information http://www.nature-throid.com/images/Nature-Throid-PI-Rev041121-03.pdf)

As you can see, the molecules are identically formed, and therefore are the ones which are truly “bio-identical in structure”.

2) Regarding your assertion that the TSH is a stable and reliable test which should be looked at first, while T4 and T3 levels fluctuate frequently and are not stable enough to be considered.

Here are several medical journal articles which should make anyone rethink the use of the TSH lab test:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100315230910.htm

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/90/9/5483

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/david-derry.htm

http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/l/blderryb.htm

And not only the above, but there are a large body of thyroid patients who, for decades, have reported having a very “normal” TSH lab test while having very obvious symptoms of hypothyroidism, including a low temperature, fatigue, exercise intolerance, feeling cold, dry skin, depression, hair loss and more.

3) Regarding your idea as to what amount of T4 or T3 a human thyroid produces in a day (such as 100 mcg T4 and about 6 mcg T3 daily).

That information will vary. For example, another source states that a human thyroid makes on average between 3-5 grains of thyroid hormone per day: “Estimates of average normal secretion for euthyroid humans are 94-110 µg T4 and 10-22 µg T3 daily (300). If you need more, it can be due to exogenous desiccated thyroid (giving it to yourself) vs. the superior absorption of natural release of thyroid hormones.”

Source: http://www.thyroidmanager.org/chapter/thyroid-hormone-synthesis-and-secretion/

Either way, it varies according to each individual as to what amount of NDT will remove all symptoms.

4) Regarding your assertion that very few thyroid patients have issues with conversion of T4 to T3:

As you may or may not know, many situations can cause problems with the conversion of T4 to T3 within the body, including a) mineral deficiencies (particularly low iron – a common issue in hypothyroid patients), b) gastrointestinal problems, c) liver problems, d) adrenal cortisol deficiencies (VERY common in T4 only-treated patients due to the inadequacy of being on nothing more than a storage hormone 5) the use of many commonly-prescribed medications including beta blockers or pharmacological doses of corticosteroids.

Source: http://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/do-you-have-a-t4-to-t3-conversion-problem/

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.84.2.5534

In addition to all the above, there are many thyroid patients who report that their FT3 “looked right” on T4-only, yet they continued to have symptoms of hypothyroidism while on thyroxine.

5) Regarding your assertion that there is no good way to dose Armour and other Natural Desiccated Thyroid Products

The growing body of thyroid patients around the world have frankly not had any issues with dosing NDT. Most dose it twice a day, such as first thing in the morning, and then the early afternoon. And it’s worked well.

Additionally, there are a variety of different strengths to choose from by the manufacturers of Natural Desiccated Thyroid meds such as Armour, NatureThroid, WP Thyroid, NP Thyroid, Erfa etc. For example….http://www.nature-throid.com/available_strengths.php

http://www.nature-throid.com/images/Nature-Throid-PI-Rev041121-03.pdf

6) Regarding the idea that a supposed “high dose of T3” has a stimulant effect…or is like a large dose of caffeine…or makes you feel good…or is addictive…or doesn’t make much sense physiologically…or may actually be dangerous, especially for the heart.

I would hope that any doctor who proclaims to be a hormone-balancing “expert” would have a basic working knowledge of the need for T3 hormone in adequate levels for optimal cardiac functioning. Here are some helpful links which demonstrate the need for adequate T3 in order for cardiac functioning to be considered “optimal.”

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has reported that long-term levothyroxine replacement therapy in young adults is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/7/2486

And from this article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18221125 “Clinical studies have shown that mild forms of thyroid dysfunction, both primary (subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism) and secondary (low T(3) syndrome) have negative prognostic impact in patients with heart failure. In these patients, the administration of synthetic triiodothyronine (T(3)) was well tolerated and induced significant improvement in cardiac function without increased heart rate and metabolic demand “

From this article: http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/93/4/1351.full.pdf “Altogether, our data indicate that short-term administration of substitutive doses of synthetic L-T3 state reduces activation of the neuroendocrine system and improves LV SV in patients with ventricular dysfunction and low-T3 syndrome”

And this study: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtr/2011/958626/abs/ “The potential of TH (thyroid hormones) to regenerate a diseased heart has now been tested in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a phase II, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study (the THiRST study)”

And this statement, from this American Heart Association-sponsored study states: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/5/708.long “…low T3 concentrations are a strong independent predictive marker of poor prognosis in cardiac patients and might represent a determinant factor directly implicated in the evolution and prognosis of these patients. “

To the contrary, hypothyroid patients are not seeking “high doses of T3”. Instead, they seek an amount of NDT that removes their symptoms of hypothyroidism, improves their temperature and metabolism, results in a strong heart and good blood pressure. When we achieve all the latter, we’ve noticed our free T3 in the upper quarter of the range, and the Free T4 around mid-range…and we have no symptoms of excess (if iron and cortisol is also corrected). It’s all the result of adequate, physiologic doses for replacement, not high doses of NDT with its inherent direct T3.

We are NOT stimulant addicts or drug-seekers, and find that offensive. We are only seeking to replace what our thyroids are not giving us, and to regain a non-hypothyroid state as a result.

We are seeking human decency, wisdom and open-mindedness from our physicians. You would not deny a diabetic patient replacement with the hormone insulin, so why would you deny a person without adequate thyroid function all the right hormones, including the T3 hormone which is critical for every cell in the body to function properly? This seems cruel and unusual treatment in my book, and does NOT correlate with the “first, do no harm” portion of the Hippocratic oath!

7) Regarding the idea that patients are full of “bitter, angry, contentious discourse.”

Do try to understand how it feels to live in a body with a damaged or under-functioning thyroid and to have a doctor replace your missing thyroid hormones with nothing more than a storage hormone. We do not see healthy thyroids only producing a storage hormone. Living life without adequate thyroid hormones (particularly direct T3- the “active” thyroid hormone which every living cell in your body needs to function properly) leaves patients frustrated.

Additionally, put yourself in our shoes when you proclaim us “normal” based on a pituitary hormone, in spite of the fact that we continue to have hypothyroid symptoms. The latter test has repeatedly failed to correspond with how patients feel and function on a daily basis.

Imagine being held to a medication such as Synthroid, which then leaves you with inadequate thyroid hormones to obtain functional levels of daily living, optimal heart function and optimal hormonal balance. Imagine living your life in pain, depression, and with high blood pressure and cholesterol, with inadequate adrenal function, and all your sex hormones thrown off balance simply because your doctor is not open-minded or educated enough to grant you the use of natural desiccated thyroid which can make those symptoms disappear (in the presence of good iron and cortisol). Imagine being unable to get out of bed in the morning due to severe unrelenting fatigue and being unable to think properly due to brain fog caused by lack of thyroid hormones. Imagine missing out on the joys of life, and family, and being a functional member of society, simply because your doctor would not allow you to try a better form of medication. Would you not be upset with your physician if you knew there was a simple solution, yet you were repeatedly brushed off, symptoms ignored, and told to go on with living your half-life and to just “deal with it?”

8) Regarding the idea that Natural Desiccated Thyroid has not worked for some patients

Janie Bowthorpe has compiled several reasons why NDT doesn’t seem to works based on over a decade of reported patient experiences: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/ndt-doesnt-work-for-me Can that many patients and their important experiences be unworthy of your open-mindedness and investigation?

In conclusion, I hope that you will read all the above with a more open-mind and rethink your stance on the use of Natural Desiccated Thyroid hormone. It is a proven safe and effective form of treatment for over 122 years and counting. Your patients are counting on YOU to do what is right!

Sincerely,

A Hashimoto’s and Graves patient for over 28 years, Post Total Thryoidectomy 2012. Happily out of heart failure and OFF BP and Cholesterol meds, OFF Cholesterol meds since June 2013- when my thyroid doctor put me on Natural Desiccated Thyroid.

February 18th 2014 66 replies

If you could turn back the clock, would you have started on NDT instead of T4-only??

“If you could turn the clock back to when you were first diagnosed, would you even have bothered trying the synthetic Thyroxine (T4-only) or would you have jumped right in with NDT (Natural Desiccated Thyroid)?”

The above is an interesting real question asked by a new thyroid patient recently to other thyroid patients in a forum.

She is in the dilemma that so many NEW hypothyroid patients find themselves in when their doctors are pushing T4-only, yet patient experiences as outlined on STTM are saying that NDT was a better treatment for all too many. WHO TO BELIEVE?? Sure, some state they do well on T4-only, but is there more to the story? Here are the answers from many different individuals in that string, plus more:

I would definitely go directly to NDT. NO doubt about it!!!
I never would have taken synthetics if I had known then what I know now. I have spent the last 15 years or so (maybe longer including the undiagnosed time) not in optimal health.
I agree 100% with the above two comments!
I would never have started on synthetic. Straight to ndt!
I was diagnosed 6 months ago. I switched after 2.5. I never felt any improvement on levo. If anything felt worse
I have been on over 9 different meds for the last 5 yrs. I found the STTM site, switched to NDT and I will never go back to all those drugs/meds! Life is actually returning to my body! The dr’s can keep you sick! Just my own personal experience!
I agree with the above. Had I known I would have never of taken Syncrap (Synthroid). Now I’m trying to fix the damage that has been done.
I have only ever been on synthetic (nine years), first Levoxyl and most recently Tirosint. If I had to do over, I would have tried NDT first no doubt.
On Eltroxin, heart issues were chest pains, numbness on my left arm, tachycardia, inverted t waves on the ECG which led them to believe i had a heart attack. I had a crazy fever and was doing reverse t3 clearout when that happened, but had it not been for synthetic, i believe i would not have gotten that bad. After taking synthetic for just a few months i also became thyrotoxic with large amounts of t4 pooling in my blood which ultimately meant to me i had conversion issues.
I’ve been on synthetic for 15 plus years. At the time I was desperate and even though I’ve done mostly natural on a lot of other fronts… I wasn’t aware there was an alternative. It seemed like a lifesaver at the time, as I was desperate. Now, with all the additional issues, which may likely be connected, I’d go with the natural for sure.
I took Synthroid, Levothyroxine and Cytomel… none of these synthetics helped me. I think my fibromyalgia diagnosis 15 years ago was due to an undertreated thyroid on Synthroid. I lost a LOT of hair as well! Armour’s resolved my hair loss within a week. It’ll take a while to grow back, but at least I’m not losing handfuls anymore!
I would have gone for Natural…I was HORRID on Synthroid
A year ago I got so sick I could barely walk to the bathroom. I couldn’t breath, shower, walk, and literally felt like I was dying. MY levothyroxine was raised from 225 to 275 which bought my TSH from 15 down to 2.5 which my NP thought was “great” — all the while I’m telling her I feel like I’m dying. I will never ever go back to SYNTHETIC (T4-only)!! Only wish I had even known there was NDT 25 years ago. I JUST heard of NDT 6 months ago through a Yahoo Group and then thank GOD I found STTM.
If you have a choice ndt is a great option.
I would too have gone straight on NDT. I spent 2 yrs fighting with my levels (going from hypo to hyper) while taking Synthroid and Cytomel. Not one of the 5 doctors I saw could ever get me regulated. Within 3 or 4 months after I started self-treating (because I was living overseas where they don’t even have NDT) I was optimized…lost almost 40 lbs and felt wonderful.
I would have absolutely gone with NDT first…
If I had stayed on Synthroid for 6 months, I would not be here now because I would have committed suicide. I was thinking about it at 2 months. Thank God I discovered NDT (Natural Dessicated Thyroid) hormone then and switched.
I was on Synthroid for a good 20 years and would have said I was doing great, energy-wise. But I never realized that my rising cholesterol, need to nap and antidepressant was due to Syncrap being inadequate. I wouldn’t do it again, in spite of having better energy than others.
I would not have tried synthetic thyroid first. NDT closely resembles the human thyroid hormones. NDT has T1 and T2 (which they are not even sure what the purpose of these thyroid hormones are yet), T3, T4, and Calcitonin. Calcitonin is important for bone strength. People who have taken synthetic, T4-only thyroid have eventually developed osteoporosis. Our bodies need all the ingredients in natural thyroid.
That’s easy. I would have started on desiccated. Why take the risk when T4 has caused so many problems for so many?
Yes. I am one who was started on both T4 and T3. I thought it was the right thing. When I switched to Np Thyroid, it was hugely better. It’s true what peeps say about it better even better. I do have good iron and cortisol.
Yes, yes, yes.

Another gal mentioned she would have gone to to the high iodine protocol first (on the premise that her hypothyroidism coud have been from low iodine).

Another said she didn’t do well on NDT, but she and any others in her shoes can discover why here i.e. it’s not about NDT–it’s about two common issues that NDT will reveal, and if treated correctly, one can soar on NDT!

Another felt it was a tough call due to some doing well on T4-only…but you have to consider that many aren’t as well as they claim (and are taking meds to bandaid the symptoms of a poor treatment), or they will and do see more problems crop up the longer they are on, in spite of doing well now.

Yes, if I could turn back the clock, I would have had better life experiences.

May 17th 2013 28 replies

New chemical analysis showing important difference between NDT and T4-only!

I found this fascinating…and I think you will, too.

I got an email from Peter Guagliano, the owner of the website thyroid-s.com. And he directed me his latest post titled “Natural Desiccated Thyroid and Synthetic are NOT the same”.

But this wasn’t the basic information that we all know i.e. comparing a single synthetic hormone to all five natural desiccated thyroid, which makes the latter wonderful.

Instead, it was about a bio-analytical chemist who decided to test synthetic T3 (Cynomel and Cynoplus) as well as the Thailand-made Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) called Thyroid-S, by extracting each tablet with methanol, then diluting and injecting them on an LC/MS system–a sensitive instrument used to detect and identify compounds and molecules in a substance.

And what he discovered and reported is that the thyroid hormones of NDT are tightly bound with thyroglobulin, a large iodine-containing protein….whereas synthetics are bound by nothing. i.e. synthetic hormones are exposed; NDT hormones are protected (until they are released by your digestion). The diagram on this blog post gives you a powerful visual of this reality, but specifically in comparing natural desiccated thyroid with synthetic T4-only. You will see the large mass of thyroglobulin on the left, each containing either T4, T3, T2, T1 or calcitonin within. Then the tiny synthetic hormone on the right, alone.

But is that bad NOT be bound by thyroglobulin?? Possibly yes in the opinion of Peter. As Peter explained: “The [exposed] synthetics might be affected by stomach acids in different ways in different people. Low acid, high acid, various digestive and pancreatic enzymes in varying amounts, bacteria/flora in the stomach and small intestine, all kinds of possibilities here which would vary by the person.” And, he says, that can mean instability!

Peter continues: “Perhaps the thyroglobulin in NDT (and completely missing in the synthetics) is absorbed, or necessary, or utilized, or forms other products during digestion that could affect blood levels of various substances, numerous carrier proteins for example, thereby affecting the results obtained.” And he concludes: “The NDT hormones are bound to thyroglobulin and not available for reaction or breakdown until after they first digested (from Janie: which saliva begins, by the way, even in your mouth). This would be a more stable compound.” His original post is here.

A side note about thyroglobulin and iodine: The protein Thyroglobulin takes up a lot of space in your thyroid with the purpose of taking ahold of iodine and storing it to produce thyroid hormones. That purpose alone tells you how important it is to have healthy levels of the nutrient iodine. And each molecule of thyroglobulin has just over 100 sites where the iodine can take ahold along with the assistance of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and hydrogen peroxide. When you are iodine deficient, it’s been noted that your thyroglobulin will increase, which is why you can see a bulge in front of your neck–also called a goiter. (Even taking too much iodine supplementation can cause this increase, which can block thyroid hormone production).

**Enjoy more scientifically technical information about thyroglobulin? Go here.

**To read about the process of making porcine-derived NDT via thyroglobulin, go here.

**To know more details about Natural Desiccated Thyroid–its history, the breakdown of the hormones, and how patients dose it, see Chapter 3 in the revised STTM book, here.

**To read how T4-only is only a reverse mirror image of the real thing, read my blog post from May 10, 2012.

Whether these findings are completely correct or not, patients simply know from ten years of experience that NDT has been giving them far better results than T4-only…and even those on T3-only who moved to NDT reported they liked the results even more. It’s all important patient-to-patient information.

June 17th 2012 23 replies

Category: desiccated thyroid