Smoking and thyroid - Thyroid and smoking.

[helvella]

Smoking and thyroid. Thyroid and smoking. The inter-relation between smoking, very likely largely due to nicotine, and thyroid has been discussed here and elsewhere many times. The place it does NOT get mentioned is anywhere concerned with giving up smoking. You can get nicotine patches, anti-depressents such as Welbutrin, and several other interventions - but not once have I ever seen even a suggestion that a thyroid test might be sensible.

Well, have a read of these three recent abstracts.

Nicotine Tob Res. 2015 Jun;17(6):690-6. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntu229. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Withdrawal From Chronic Nicotine Reduces Thyroid Hormone Levels and Levothyroxine Treatment Ameliorates Nicotine Withdrawal-Induced Deficits in Hippocampus-Dependent Learning in C57BL/6J Mice.

Leach PT1, Holliday E1, Kutlu MG1, Gould TJ2.

Author information

1Temple University Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

2Temple University Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA [e-mail].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Cigarette smoking alters a variety of endocrine systems including thyroid hormones. Altered thyroid hormone signaling may lead to a subclinical or overt hypothyroid condition that could contribute to nicotine withdrawal-related symptoms, such as cognitive deficits. Thus, normalizing thyroid hormone levels may represent a novel therapeutic target for ameliorating nicotine withdrawal-associated cognitive deficits.

METHODS:

The current studies conducted an analysis of serum thyroid hormone levels after chronic and withdrawal from chronic nicotine treatment in C57BL/6J mice using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The present studies also evaluated the effect of synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) on contextual and cued memory.

RESULTS:

The current studies found that nicotine withdrawal reduces secreted thyroid hormone levels by 9% in C57BL/6J mice. Further, supplemental thyroid hormone not only enhanced memory in naïve animals, but also ameliorated deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning associated with nicotine withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that smokers attempting to quit should be monitored closely for changes in thyroid function. If successfully treated, normalization of thyroid hormone levels may ameliorate some deficits associated with nicotine withdrawal and this may lead to higher rates of successful abstinence.

© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [e-mail].

PMID:

25358661

[PubMed - in process]

PMCID:

PMC4481724

[Available on 2016-06-01]

And...

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015 Sep 4. pii: S0149-7634(15)00236-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.09.001. [Epub ahead of print]

Thyroid Hormone Signaling: Contribution to Neural Function, Cognition, and Relationship to Nicotine.

Leach PT1, Gould TJ2.

Author information

1Temple University Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

2Temple University Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122. Electronic address: [e-mail].

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is common despite its adverse effects on health, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the addictive properties of nicotine makes it possible to target them to prevent the initiation of smoking behavior and/or increase the chance of successful quit attempts. While highly addictive, nicotine is not generally considered to be as reinforcing as other drugs of abuse. There are likely other mechanisms at work that contribute to the addictive liability of nicotine. Nicotine modulates aspects of the endocrine system, including the thyroid, which is critical for normal cognitive functioning. It is possible that nicotine's effects on thyroid function may alter learning and memory, and this may underlie some of its addictive potential. Here, we review the literature on thyroid function and cognition, with a focus on how nicotine alters thyroid hormone signaling and the potential impact on cognition. Changes in cognition are a major symptom of nicotine addiction. Current anti-smoking therapies have modest success at best. If some of the cognitive effects of nicotine are mediated through the thyroid hormone system, then thyroid hormone agonists may be novel treatments for smoking cessation therapies. The content of this review is important because it clarifies the relationship between smoking and thyroid function, which has been ill-defined in the past. This review is timely because the reduction in smoking rates we have seen in recent decades, due to public awareness campaigns and public smoking bans, has leveled off in recent years. Therefore, novel treatment approaches are needed to help reduce smoking rates further.

Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PMID:

26344666

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

And...

Neuropharmacology. 2015 Jun;93:155-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.01.026. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Thyroid receptor β involvement in the effects of acute nicotine on hippocampus-dependent memory.

Leach PT1, Kenney JW1, Connor DA1, Gould TJ2.

Author information

1Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.

2Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. Electronic address: [e-mail].

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is common despite adverse health effects. Nicotine's effects on learning may contribute to addiction by enhancing drug-context associations. Effects of nicotine on learning could be direct or could occur by altering systems that modulate cognition. Because thyroid signaling can alter cognition and nicotine/smoking may change thyroid function, nicotine could affect learning through changes in thyroid signaling. These studies investigate the functional contributions of thyroid receptor (TR) subtypes β and α1 to nicotine-enhanced learning and characterize the effects of acute nicotine and learning on thyroid hormone levels. We conducted a high throughput screen of transcription factor activity to identify novel targets that may contribute to the effects of nicotine on learning. Based on these results, which showed that combined nicotine and learning uniquely acted to increase TR activation, we identified TRs as potential targets of nicotine. Further analyses were conducted to determine the individual and combined effects of nicotine and learning on thyroid hormone levels, but no changes were seen. Next, to determine the role of TRβ and TRα1 in the effects of nicotine on learning, mice lacking the TRβ or TRα1 gene and wildtype littermates were administered acute nicotine prior to fear conditioning. Nicotine enhanced contextual fear conditioning in TRα1 knockout mice and wildtypes from both lines but TRβ knockout mice did not show nicotine-enhanced learning. This finding supports involvement of TRβ signaling in the effect of acute nicotine on hippocampus-dependent memory. Acute nicotine enhances learning and these effects may involve processes regulated by the transcription factor TRβ.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Acetylcholine; Fear conditioning; Gene; Learning and memory; Nicotine; Thyroid; Thyroid receptor

PMID:

25666034

[PubMed - in process]

PMCID:

PMC4387063

[Available on 2016-06-01]

OK folks - how many of you gave up smoking shortly before starting to suffer thyroid issues, or saw them worsen?

[Hidden]

I stopped smoking approx 6 years ago an felt Realy ill so I started again then aprox 4 to 5 years ago found out I had hypothyroidism tsh 13 didn't have a clue just took tyroxine never felt the same . This year I became a lot worse joined this forum an bingo learned a lot I now know I'm hashi . Anyway I stopped smoking beginning of June no desire to smoke after taking champix until I read about anatibine ... I've felt like I've the flu everyday until this week ive started to smoke again even tho I don't like it the flu feeling is definitely gone . It's a hard one to call but to be honest I'd rather die than feel the way I did it was was like flu for nearly 4 months on top of Realy bad hashi

[Rapunzel]

I did, Rod. I thought I was dying and it was such a relief when my GP said take one of these and you'll soon feel fine. That I didn't feel fine came later and now I know I'm only dying slowly Stopping smoking and then having hypo present was one of the biggest 'bummer' moments of my life.

Every so often I think of buying one of those vaper things...apparently nicotine isn't the very 'bad' drug one gets when smoking. But then to muddy the waters, I was an habitual stoner as well...now I'm a clean granny with creaky joints, supplemental hair and way too much blubber. I've come to the conclusion you can't win and I should just count my blessings I'm still standing and get over myself.

Has anyone followed thru and started vaping ? Did it make a difference ?

[Poshpenny]

My thyroid problems probably started 3 months after I gave up smoking, which coincided with me coming off the nicotine patches. The first very visible sign was the ballooning weight, about 2 stone in a month 😢 (I wasnt eating enough extra food to justify that kind of calorie imbalance). It went on from there, me feeling worse, acne like you wouldn't believe, but not being able to pinpoint what was going on. a year on from giving up I went to the doctor about the weight that wouldn't shift He did various blood tests, I now know that my ft4 result at that time was 8.5 (lower limit here 7.5). No wonder in felt rough, but of course waS told "normal"

[Hidden]

Thanks for this Rod. I had joined up the dots and obtaining a copy of all my medical records confirmed this. I was slim and took up running to stop smoking (20 years a smoker), can you believe that my weight actually increased despite running very regularly up to marathon distance!!

Of course my medical records were full of TATT with ferritin being on the floor. Also found a test result with a TSH of 4.0 - nobody told me. Difficulty in swallowing was mentioned to the GP but, as per usual, was fobbed off.

Looking back I can see that an assortment of GPs were unable to interpret blood test results. They really can not be trusted with our health.

[greygoose]

I guess I'm not a typical case, because it's pretty certain that I've been hypo since I was a small child. I started smoking when I was 14, and smoked on and off since then. My worst being 25+ a day when I was around fifty, going through a divorce and various other traumatic events. I was diagnosed when I was 55. At the time, I had no intention of giving up smoking - I needed my fags! - but the endo at that time nagged and nagged about it, so, came a point when I thought OK, I'll give it a try...

I chose a time when I was in hospital, having my gall bladder out. Being unable to smoke at will, I thought it would be a good time to try. I did stop. But, after that, my health just got worse and worse and worse. And it's only now, on reading this, that I'm thinking : hey! hang on a minute! Could that have had anything to do with stopping smoking?

Anyway, I did start again, because a smoker moved in with me, and I couldn't resist! And I started to feel a bit perkier. But the HGH injections could have had something to do with that, too! After he moved out, I stopped again. And went rapidly down-hill...

It's tempting to think that maybe lack of nicotine had a desasterous effect, but to be honest, my Hashi's journey, since I was diagnosed, has been so full of ups and down - mainly downs! - that it's difficult to know what's caused what. Levo didn't agree with me, then T3 did. Then NDT didn't agree with me, nutritional deficiencies, and that mystery illness I had two years ago... Who knows. What's more, who is going to be interested enough to try and find out?!? No-one, I should think. Oh, well...

[Clutter]

Helvella, Seems that supplementing a little thyroxine for a few months might make it easier for some to quit. Can't see it happening though, despite the undoubted health benefits in aiding quitting, I think some think smokers deserve to be made to suffer for their addiction.

I quit smoking 5 years before Hashi/thyCa diagnosis. No weight gain after quitting until 3 years later, 13kg gain in less than a year. I suspect that was Hashi's although I was fit as a flea and very well.

[Beverleyb]

I stopped smoking in January this year as I have just had a knee replacement, with it being a major op, I knew I had to stop to aid recovery. I used a vaping cigarette, I feel fine ,so pleased I gave up, who knows if in the future its discovered ecigs are not good,at least im not getting all the other added rubbish in a cigarette. No problems with thyroid symptoms either, unless its because I have found thyroid treatment that actually makes me feel better.

[Glynisrose]

My thyroid problem didn't show till I gave up smoking.

[Zephyrbear in reply to Glynisrose]

Neither did mine... Reading all of this now is like a little light bulb going on in my head. My weight, even taking into account I had 4 children, before I stopped smoking stayed between 9.5 and 10 stone (depending on where I was in my monthly cycle) irrespective of what or how much I chucked down my neck. As soon as I stopped, my weight went up to 12 stone, although part of that may have been attributable to 'the change' which kicked off then too. My brain became Swiss cheese and I felt bloody awful! I finally had a TSH level in a blood test high enough to get me started on T4, which helped a little, but the doctor's promise that 'if I took this little pill daily the weight would soon drop off me...' never materialised, in fact, it continued to go up and finally levelled out at 13.5 stone. After a few years of this I went back to see my endo and he prescribed the current T4/T3 combination I am still on. The brain fog went (I did a university degree!), I felt more in control and even the weight began to come off. Things were looking up... or so I thought. The increase in weight led to breathlessness which was diagnosed as 'asthma' and I was given a steroid inhaler (Clenyl Modulite) which caused an increasing stuffiness in my nose that was finally diagnosed as nasal polyps. As part of the treatment for those I was prescribed several courses of steroids (Prednisolone 25mg for 12 days) The last course, in June this year, I believe, coincided with a Hashi flare as suddenly all my hypo symptoms came back (losing hair, brain fog etc.) and I've gained yet another stone in weight... and I am very p*ssed off !!! I know I'm going to have just as much success in getting rid of that additional blubber as I have the previous. I would hate the idea of going back to the fags, but I'm sorely tempted to try the e-variety...

[jeans]

I stopped smoking and instead of feeling better, as everyone told me I would, I felt awful but no weight gain until about five years after. Dieting and exercise did not make any difference. I was eventually diagnosed hypo and 12 yrs later I'm still feeling awful.

[Mollyjane]

To cut a long story short - Stopped smoking and 3 weeks later the depression hit like a bolt from the blue. 16 years of antidepressants and "within range" thyroid results. Now on 100mcg on thyroxine and still got a long way to go.

I can honestly say that I'm not sad, or angry, just relieved to know, that I always knew there was a connection and I was right all along.

With thanks to Rod, Grey Goose and Clutter x

[Steni]

Oh my word, I gave up smoking last September and almost immediately felt terrible, I have continued to tell anyone who will listen that I have never felt worse, and that I felt much much better when smoking!!!  Although I have felt that I have had thyroid autoimmune issues for years I kept testing 'normal' I finally received a positive  diagnosis last week and after treading this article wonder if my addiction was and is still so intense because my thyroid is so out of whack???