This is an excerpt (not recommended if on the birth control pill):
The research showed that taking vitamin C along with levothyroxine reduced TSH levels substantially, by as much as 27%. Taking the levothyroxine along with 1 gram of vitamin C mixed with water over a period of six weeks was able to help the majority of patients achieve their TSH target level (and also antibodies in one person who posted).
Men may need to be wary of that! (The study below was only conducted on men so cannot say anything about any effect on women.)
Vitamin C supplements linked to kidney stones
New research from Karolinska Institutet shows that men who take vitamin C supplements regularly run a higher risk of developing kidney stones. The study, which is published in the scientific periodical JAMA Internal Medicine, did not however observe an increased risk between kidney stones and multivitamins - which contain lower concentrations of vitamin C.
The research is based on data from a large population-based study of men from Västmanland and Örebro counties, who were monitored for 11 years. A total of 23,355 men were identified who had no history of kidney stones and who took either no dietary supplements or supplements in the form of vitamin C only. During the study period, 436 of the participants developed kidney stones that required medical attention. The researchers then compared the risk of kidney stones in vitamin C-takers with that in men who did not take any supplements. The analysis was then repeated for men who took multivitamins.
The results of the study indicate that men who take vitamin C supplements (typically 1000 mg per tablet) are twice as likely to develop kidney stones as men who do not take any dietary supplements. The risk was also found to increase with the frequency of vitamin C supplement use. The regular use of multivitamins was not found to be associated with the risk of kidney stones.
The researchers believe that both the dose and combination of nutrients with which the vitamin C is ingested are important. For this reason, the observed increase in risk does not apply to a normal dietary intake of vitamin C from fruit and vegetables. In Sweden, the RDI for vitamin C is 75 mg; the vitamin C content of supplements is commonly 1,000 mg per tablet, which is a considerably higher dose than which is obtained through food.
"As with all research, the results should be corroborated by other studies for us to be really sure," says study leader Agneta Åkesson, Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet's Institute of Environmental Medicine. "Nor can we say anything about whether women run the same risk as men. But given that there are no well-documented benefits of taking high doses of vitamin C in the form of dietary supplements, the wisest thing might be not to take them at all, especially if you have suffered kidney stones previously."
The study was carried out in association with urologists and nephrologists at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, and was made possible with a grant from the Swedish Research Council and with Karolinska Institutets KID funding for doctoral education.
That's interesting because my friendle local pharmacist recommended taking vitamin C with my Carbimazole, I had been taking it anyway following the removal of a back tooth and the after care leaflet I got recommended it. I take slow-release capsules, two of them provide 1000mg Vit C combined with 10mg zinc. Hard to tell if it lowers my TSH because I think I was taking them before my Graves really kicked off - who knows maybe it would have been even worse without the Vit C.
I've only recently started to look at high dose vit C, one view is that it's pretty effective in reducing cortisol levels (stress hormone levels - which when high inhibits thyroid metabolism), and in assisting many cellular level processes. (which is where the action takes place with thyroid hormone)
This (no idea how credible the work is) sets out some of the thinking which goes back to Linus Pauling etc: vitamincfoundation.org/www....
Without pronouncing yea or nay on the subject it's worth bearing in mind that there's powerful interests out there that have a very strong vested interest in discrediting the efficacy of simple low cost treatments like vit C.
Preliminary results in my own case suggest that it improves my well being and may well assist the processing of cortisol as claimed - at least in the short term....
PS the kidney stone issue is addressed specifically in 'compications' well down the page. This doctor argues that his experience is that it actually prevents most types of kidney stones by helping to reduce the indcidence of kidney and baldder infections....
I take an effervescent vitamin c tablet with my thyroxine every morning (only change I've made this year) and my TSH results have dropped from over 7 in April to just over 1 in my last test. So it's definitely something I'm sticking with. I would like to know if anyone can recommend a certain brand. I just take the Boots brand, but I'm wondering if a more expensive brand may be even more effective? (As with things like cod liver oil, etc.)
Hi there, I take the juice of 2 whole lemons everyday - 1/2 juiced in a glass of water on rising and 1/2 before bed. It's a natural source of Vit C so easy on the tum, and helps with the the absorption of iron. I have been anaemic for 30yrs! Since adopting this regime am now iron supplement free and my blood test for iron averages 12 - 12.5. My tsh has remained stable just over 1 and my cholesterol has dropped almost 2 points! I do have a green juice every day with a lemon. They are also full of antioxidants so great for inflammation and a daily tonic for the old liver! A great all rounder.
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