Interesting/Confusing article in Daily Mail

[jacquelis2]

On page 42 of Good Health section - Re. Eat More Seaweed - Women eating rich-in-iodine seaweed doubled their iodine levels in just two weeks and thyroid-stimulating hormone rose by a third! Sounds brilliant stuff ?!?

[Clutter]

Jacquelis2, it's only good if you are hyperthyroid. Higher TSH means lower FT4 and FT3 which is the last thing hypothyroid patients want.

[HarryE in reply to Clutter]

Yes, I couldn't understand why they though that a rise in TSH was a good thing!

[decembersignup in reply to Clutter]

Clutter. A while ago you gave me some information regarding the thyirod tablet. You said it contains 75 to 100 mg. Well it is 62.5. Here is what you said.

Likewise you are ignoring that a lot of people with an underactive thyroid benefit from iodine whether they take another medication or not. Perhaps you assume they are taking too much rather than just enough to help.

, 1 x Thiroyd tablet is equivalent to 75mcg-100mcg Levothyroxine so you were overmedicated. If you have Thiroyd or other NDT left try a lower dose, say half a tablet. I think you are overmedicated on 50mcg Levothyroxine and can probably halve the dose. FT4 usually goes up to 22 and FT3 6.8 but it is possible your ranges are different. Your GP receptionist or practice manager should be able to give you the ranges used at your practice. I was over replaced after thyCa and felt desperately ill with FT4 >32 for months. It may be worth skipping 4-5 Levothyroxine doses to reduce T4 and T3 levels and then halving dose to 25mcg.

Clutter a few seconds ago

If I were feeling ill on something I would not let it go on for 32 months!

[marram in reply to decembersignup]

Decembersignup, I would just like to make something clear. I think you will find that clutter said 'FT4 more than 32 for months', not 'for 32 months'.

Also, she said 'it is equivalent to 75-100 mcg Levothyroxine'. That is entirely different from 'it contains ....'. Thiroyd is a natural desiccated thyroid product and therefore contains NO Levothyroxine, which is a synthetic product. Since natural thyroid products contain T4 AND T3, when quoting equivalents, the effect of the T3 in addition to the T4 has to be taken into account.

But anyway, what has this to do with an article in the Daily Mail about seaweed?

[Clutter in reply to decembersignup]

Decembersignup, I did NOT say Thiroyd contains 75-100mg. I said 1 tablet Thiroyd is equivalent to 75-100mcg Levothyroxine.

I grain of NDT is usually a 60-65mg tablet (differs according to brand) containing 38mcg T4 and 9mcg T3 (slightly less for Thiroyd and Erfa), which is bioactively equivalent to 75-100mcg T4.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

I said I felt ill with FT4 >32 for months. I didn't say I felt ill for 32 months.

Please have the courtesy to quote what I say and don't paraphrase what you think I said.

"Likewise you are ignoring that a lot of people with an underactive thyroid benefit from iodine whether they take another medication or not. Perhaps you assume they are taking too much rather than just enough to help.

Unless people have tested iodine deficient I don't think they should supplement iodine. Patients on thyroid replacement get iodine from their medication so I don't think they need to supplement. If, as the article apparently states (I haven't read it), TSH rose by a third after 2 weeks eating iodine rich seaweed why would that be good?

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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 physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[jacquelis2]

My thoughts exactly !!

[decembersignup]

It is brilliant stuff - and it is because it contains IODINE. Some will tell you to steer clear of iodine. Yet many naturopaths, well known, highly qualified people, will treat underactive thyroid 100% or partly with it. It also contains many other nutrients. After all we should not be obsessed with our thyroids, when we are also wanting to make sure we do not get cancer, arthritis and many other ailments.

[Glynisrose]

TSH is not a reliable measure of thyroid function. It can become supressed when taking ANY form of thyroid replacement hormone.