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supplements, fillers, and their effects on the thyroid?

ecie profile image
ecie
14 Replies

I just read on STTM that cellulose has detrimental affects on people with thyroid disorders. I've also read that magnesium stearate and gelatin are toxic if taken in large doses or over time. I've been through my bottles of vitamins and all of them contain one or more of those fillers.

I don't know what to do because if I am vitamin deficient, gluten and lactose intolerant, have to avoid cruciferous veggies due to my Hashimoto's, and hate the taste of red meat, how on earth am I meant to get any substantial doses of ANY vitamin without supplements? Multivitamins all contain iodine. So I'm a bit stumped.

Any ideas?

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ecie
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14 Replies

The amount of fillers in supplements are usually pretty low, and have no affect on the majority of people.

Best advice I can think of is to take them one at a time, if there are no unwanted side effects after a week or two, then introduce another one and build up what you need. I'd stay away from multi vits myself, the dosage of what you actually need is usually too small and the iodine should be avoided.

I have hashis and although they are not recommended for thyroid sufferers I still (occassionally) eat small amounts of brasicas, without much ill-effect, most things that should be avoided are actually pretty safe in small doses, just dont eat a whole bowl of brussel sprouts everyday, and if you find it affecting your thyroid then stop eating it. Mine becomes noticable swollen and sore if I eat sautéed cabbage (which I love), yet I can eat a couple of sprouts ok

Its all trial and error until you find what you can take and what to avoid.

ellarose1234 profile image
ellarose1234 in reply to

I agree that you should be a bit sensible about "cutting out completely"

I have Hashis and feel that a few sprouts etc are not going to do you that much harm

as long as you don't go overboard. If I "cut out" everything I read about then there would be precious little I could eat at all and vitamins, although very necessary for we with thyroid problems, can't totally replace real food.

Moggie profile image
Moggie

I know where you are coming from regarding fillers. I have been suffering with heart palps for nearly a year now and, like you, used to take quite a few suppliments like VitC, VitD and B12. I stopped these one by one to see if the heart palps stopped but, although they have lessened, they are still there which I think is down to the fillers in the T4. My palps only started when they withdrew the Teva brand of T4 and I had to go on to another brand. Lots of people on here suffer side effects on T4 and changing brands often helps so there is definately something in the different bands that effect people in different ways.

We are all different and where as one person will be o.k. with fillers in certain tablets another person can have quite a reaction. I want to know why the put Acacia powder in nearly everything, whats that about.

There are companies that do suppliments that contain hardly any filllers in them at all but you have to pay quite a lot for these, maybe you should look into it.

If you google filler free suppliments there are quite a fw companies that appear, here's one that I was looking at.

paradiseherbs.com/article/2...

Also take a look at a company called Lamberts which are quite good.

Moggie x

in reply toMoggie

Acacia is a good filler, its natural and helps the gut to utilise whatever the vitamin, mineral or drug etc its combined with, and very few people have a problem with it making it one of the more versatile fillers, against the alternative - glutens I'd have it as a filler anyday.

Not much use if you do react to it mind you, but its becoming more used which is a good thing for the rest of us.

Liquid supplements tend not to have so many other ingredients are mainly natural and are worth looking at, although they usually have to be kept in the fridge, have a very short shelf life and can be expensive.

Moggie profile image
Moggie in reply to

That answers the Acacia powder question then as I have been noticing that it is in almost every suppliments or tablet you take these days. As you say that's good for most but will be a pain if you are actually intolerant to it.

Thanks for that.

Moggie x

Barbaraj profile image
Barbaraj in reply toMoggie

I am allergic to acacia and had to change brands because of it. I am salicylate sensitive which means that any concentrated herbal preparation makes me feel extremely unwell and locks my neck and jaw. I hope you're ok with it but just thought I'd tell you of my experience.

Good luck!

Moggie profile image
Moggie in reply toBarbaraj

Which proves the point regarding fillers - personally I dont think any filler is good and trying to work out which one is causing problems is a nightmare.

Thanks for the input.

Moggie x

Gillybabe profile image
Gillybabe in reply toBarbaraj

Yep I cannot have levothyroxine with acacia. Other brands are fine. Mercury pharma bad for me.

davbman profile image
davbman in reply toGillybabe

Hello Gillybabe I suspect I may have a problem with Mercury levo also. Can you tell me what symptoms you were getting?

sporty333 profile image
sporty333

Check out dr Sarah myhills website! She does creams and pure vitamin supplements. All the info you need is on the web site :0)

Si

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

There is a problem in saying things like "cellulose has detrimental affects on people with thyroid disorders". And that is, you cannot avoid cellulose. Every vegetable. Every fruit. Every grain. Indeed, every plant. All contain cellulose. And some bacteria can form cellulose.

Lots of Hashimoto's sufferers (and other hypothyroid people) eat cruciferous vegetables - at least some of them. In quite a few the goitrogenic effect seems to be substantially reduced by cooking. It is a large group of plants to avoid.

I'd check up how much was considered a large dose - or how much over how long - for magnesium stearate. And then assess how much you might be taking. I have a hunch that the amount that was being mentioned is likely massively more than you are likely taking.

It might not be ideal, but unless you are getting issues that you can demonstrate are related to magnesium stearate, I'd be cautious about making any assumptions.

Rod

SallySussex profile image
SallySussex

I use myself and recommend to others natural food-state and wholefood supplements by Cytoplan Ltd. Please take a look at the information on their website located at cytoplan.co.uk. This is a very ethical company supplying high quality supplements to clients of therapists and doctors. They are wholly-owned by a charitable foundation and all profits go to nutrition-based charities. They employ qualified nutritionists who can answer all your questions and provide specific advice. And they frequently offer 30% reductions on selected products.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toSallySussex

As their products contain cellulose products (e.g. hypromellose) and magnesium stearate, I fail to understand why this company represents an answer to the original poster.

ecie profile image
ecie

thanks for the replies, everyone. Sorry i cannot address everyone, but I appreciate your input :)

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