LOW THYROID, HYPOTHYROIDISM AND
NATURAL HYPOTHYROID THERAPIES: Should we treat with Cytomel or Armour
Thyroid Even When Thyroid Blood Tests are Normal?
Mainstream Thyroid Treatments
Most “mainstream”
physicians believe
that one should not treat with thyroid hormone unless standard thyroid
hormone blood tests are abnormal. They usually prescribe the T4 form of
thyroid hormone, rejecting any role for the T3 forms of thyroid, Cytomel and
Armour Thyroid.
Natural Hypothyroid Therapies
Many holistic, integrative and complementary
alternative medicine physicians believe that many people are effectively
hypothyroid because they are unable to make the main active thyroid hormone,
which is not T4 but the form found in Cytomel and Armour thyroid, that is,
T3.
This low T3 form of hypothyroid, they assert, does
not show up on blood tests, because it occurs inside our cells, not outside
in the blood stream.
Rationale For T3 Natural Hypothyroid
Therapies: Cytomel or Armour Thryoid
The standard thyroid hormone medicine, T4, that most doctors prescribe, is not
the active form of thyroid hormone. The thyroid makes mostly T4, and secretes
this into the blood. Then our cells take up T4, but before the cells can put
T4 to work, cells must convert T4 to a natural hypothyroid hormone, known as
T3. Synthroid and Levothyroid, the most often prescribed thyroid hormones,
contain only T4. Cytomel is 100% T3. Armour Thryoid (pork-derived) is about
60% T4 and 40% T3.
If the cell has a decreased ability to convertT4 (Synthroid) into T3 (Cytomel),
cellular metabolism could be too low i.e. hypothyroid for lack of T3-- despite
the standard blood thyroid hormone tests being normal. If the cells have
trouble converting T4 to T3 then natural hypothyroid therapies have to supply
the needed T3, most often by treating with Cytomel or Armour Thyroid.
Ironically, almost all mainstream experts agree that difficulties converting
T4(Synthroid) to T3(Cytomel) can occur. However, most mainstream thyroid
specialists believe that only a few individuals suffer from low T3
intracellular hypothyroid.
In contrast, most alternative medicine thyroid doctors believe that T3
deficiency within the cells is actually a common problem. Hence, their
emphasis on natural hypothyroid therapies such as natural Armour Thyroid, or
the synthetic T3 medicine, Cytomel.
Rationale for Natural Hypothyroid Therapies Using
Cytomel and Armour ThyroidWe do not yet have enough first rate studies of natural thyroid therapies,
but, recent research shows that there are quite a few settings in which T4 to
T3 blockage may occur. For example:
The enzyme that converts T 4 thyroid hormone into T3 requires the mineral
Selenium. If selenium nutrition is sub-par, the cell cannot produce as much
T3. Zinc, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D may also be needed.
Hypothyroid diets: Certain otherwise healthful foods, in large amounts, can
block the production of both T3 and T4.
Severe physical illness can also block the formation of T3. These conditions
may include such common conditions as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
syndrome.
The stress-hormone cortisol (cortisone) can block T3. Both physical and
emotional distress often makes cortisol rise. This is especially so among
persons with anxiety and depression.
In recent years leading mainstream psychiatrists have accepted that thyroid
hormone therapy for people with depression, can improve mood–even among people
whose standard thyroid blood tests are normal. T3 forms, Armour thyroid and
Cytomel, were used in most studies, although Synthroid or Levothyroid also may
work.
Dr. CB Nemeroff, from the Department of Psychiatry of the Emory University of
Medicine endorsed the use of natural hypothyroid therapies as an adjunctive
treatment for depression:
Augmentation of tricyclic antidepressant or selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor therapy with thyroid hormone (T3)... has been shown to be effective
in open and controlled trials.(Nemeroff CB. Augmentation strategies in
patients with refractory depression Depress Anxiety 1996-97;4(4):169-81).
While low doses
of thyroid hormone supplements are relatively safe, higher doses can
substantially increase the risk of potentially dangerous cardiac
rhythm abnormalities and other health problems. Such side effects
should be taken into account in weighing the potential benefits
versus the risks of thyroid hormone treatment, especially at higher
doses.
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