Hey!
Can anyone answer a question for me?
When I was first diagnosed with Hypothyroidism one of the first thing my Dr asked me was if I was taking any creatine supplements, and I wasn't.....
It was never explained to me why he asked that, but I got the impression that had I said yes he would have told me to stop.
Anyone know what effect creatine supplementation has? Just it'd be bloody handy for my training!
Cheers
Mark
Markwhufc82, It doesn't seem to affect thyroid but shouldn't be taken if renal or liver function is impaired.
Hello Mark,
Welcome to our forum.
Creatine is thought to increase strength and muscle mass.
Creatinine is a normal byproduct of muscle metabolism created by the bodies use of creatine that the kidneys excrete. If you have low thyroid hormone the kidneys cannot perform at a normal rate and a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) will result in a reduced clearance of creatine meaning creatinine levels will start to rise. This is bad news.
The body's metabolism depends on the amount of hormones you have and good levels of T3 are required for exercise. T3 directly boosts metabolism in mitochondria & regulates fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism.
Physical exercise will enhance thyroid production in a healthy person but also in hypothyroidism as long as you are optimally medicated and diet is right and the exercise is not too much.
Don't forget heavy training might raise cortisol levels too high and commonly cause inflammation by overuse of certain muscles. Both of these can inhibit T4-T3 conversion and everyone requires good levels of T3 to function well ( let alone exercise intensely.)
Whether you have good results from creatine or not is individual and down to genetics. One of my sons takes creatine (against my wishes but he is not hypothyroid) with juice which enhances muscle uptake as carbs are required.
Flower
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal before applying any of these suggestions.
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Morning!
Thank you both for your responses.
That's very helpful Flower.
I've previously trained using Creatine (years before being diagnosed) and I gained very good results particularly with regards to recovery rate, and muscle mass. The research conducted on creatine over the years confirms that it is possibly THE sports supplement to take (unlike the inconclusive research on things like protein supplementation).
Since being diagnosed my level of exercise and fitness has increased significantly and thus far I've not had any problems. My job as an exercise therapist keeps me very active as well as my own personal regime. I take 175mg of levothyroxin a day which I'm led to believe is a hefty dosage and I'm as fit as I have been for some time. The reason I'm enquiring about creatine is just to assist a change in my exercise programme, but obviously I'm concerned about any side-effects or a return of any of the agonising symptoms I felt pre-diagnosis (cramps, bloatedness, fatigue etc...)
Mark
Mark,
If you feel well that is great & medicating T4 alone obviously suits you as it does for most people..
175mcg of Levo is a hefty dose but as long as your body is utilising it well, I don't think this matters.
Flower
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal before applying any of these suggestions.
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I used to use when I was a body builder to help with muscle building. It helps eliminate fatigue when training by helping to create more ATP for energy (I missed out a few steps, but that's basically it.) Can be hard on your liver or kidneys if you already have a problem, but studies haven't shown that it actually damages them. If you take creatine, you'll probably show up a higher creatinine score on blood tests (which might be indicative of kidney damage if you weren't supplementing). that would be the most likely reason for the doc to ask you (esp if you are male and look as though you might spend time in the gym or be a athlete)
Hey man,
Cheers for that, I might give my doctor a ring and see what he has to say.
The training benefits of creatine are what's tempting. When I've supplemented it in the past I've felt great! Haha
Sorry to butt in here but what is wrong with a low creatinine level. ?Mines is 48 with range 44 to 80. You alla talk about building muscle but I find that mine are weak. My legs are heavy going up stairs and I have no strength in my hands either.
Jo xx
There is not usually anything wrong with having a low creatinine level.
labtestsonline.org.uk/under...
Please don't confuse creatine and creatinine - they are two different things.
There is also a substance, different again, called creatine kinase which is measured when checking for muscle damage. It is tested in people who are suspected of having had a heart attack or rhabdomyolysis.
Yeah I'm not on about a low creatinine. Thanks for your reply though.
Creatine supplementation creates more creatinine in the body so can create a false reading on the ability of your kidney. That being said creatine supplementation is not bad for the kidney and may even help the thyroid, especially hypothyroid because it takes the pressure of muscle degradation by supporting their recovery, leading to less catabolism and thus less kidney effort, and improving thyroid function.
Personally my creatinine un urine test is often slightly high, and I am sensitive to cold and have mild fatigue - all symptoms indicating possible mild hypothyroid. Though my thyroid test looks in range - of course it does, because the blood homeostasis of tsh, t3, t4 etc are kept in a tight range and is not going to go out of whack until it gets really bad and then its too late and I'll need meds. My mum got hypothyroid in her later years so its possibly a future progression for me.
So I have taken a few things over the years and my body temperature generally has umproved by the supplementation of taurine and creatine. More recently with creatine I've noticed my urine creatinine has actually reduced. Go figure. My recovery after the gym is 3-4 days faster. Iodine also improved my temperature but I over did it in the past and now conscious it requires a very low dose.
Hope this helps.
A little about Hyper-Pigmented Swelling with Elevated Creatine Kinase and HypoT
T4 Treated People with Muscle Pain - Creatine Monohydrate as a helpful supplement.
High levels of creatine, high T4 and low T3
Vitamin supplements
Supplements and a moan
