Lutein/Beta Carotene

[infomaniac]

I've just been researching Marshalllow Root (which is supposed to be good for inflammation) and read that people with Hashis should avoid Lutein and Beta Carotene, but I can't seem to find out why.

Can anyone help please?

[humanbean]

Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. Healthy people can convert from beta carotene to vitamin A with no problems. People with thyroid problems can't do the conversion. If people supplement with beta carotene they may end up looking rather orange because it builds up.

If you need vitamin A then supplement with vitamin A, not beta carotene.

Sorry, can't help with lutein.

See this link : thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

I'd like to know about lutein as well.

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

There does seem to be a link between beta-carotene and lutein. Lutein is a natural carotenoid according to Wikipedia, which is found in plants and in egg yolks (it provides the yellow colour in chicken skin and egg yolks).

According to the last paragraph in this link (the section on Macular degeneration) :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutei...

experiments have shown some benefit from removing beta-carotene and replacing it with lutein, in some treatment for AMD.

I really, really, REALLY don't know what I'm talking about though, so I'm going to stop here.

[infomaniac in reply to humanbean]

I actually do have something going on with Vit A. I noticed a few years ago that my hands had a yellowy colour and now I have at times had orange knuckles, which I googled and found was called Carotenemia. This doesn't appear to be dangerous though? I'm a bit concerned as I've started taking Macushield (eye supplement) which contains it and also, as I try to stay off potatoes I eat quite a lot of sweet potatoes. Interestingly, my knuckles aren't as orange now though?

The item I read said that "most people agree that beta carotene and lutein should be avoided" but as it was from 2012 I'm wondering if this advice still stands as it's the first I've heard of it.

[humanbean in reply to infomaniac]

I used to have orange palms with the lines on my palms highlighted in bright red. I remember having yellow/orange palms and soles of my feet going back as far as childhood. They aren't nearly as bad now as they used to be and I can only assume that working on my thyroid health and nutrient levels (as I have been for a few years now) has improved my ability to metabolise carotenoids. But I am simply guessing, and personally I wouldn't supplement with them unless I had no other choice.

[Pinkpeony]

I would like to know also .

I take Macushield for my eyes as recommended by the Eye hospital , but that was before my thyroid problems started

[infomaniac in reply to Pinkpeony]

I hope someone can advise us all on the great lutein mystery!

[SmallBlueThing]

Lutein is a carotenoid and vitamin A is required for conversion of T4 to T3. Liver dysfunction due to hypothyroidism reduces its efficiency at converting beta-carotene to vitamin A, affecting thyroid health if there aren't adequate sources of vitamin A (liver, oily fish, dairy, supplementation). Although it's a vital nutrient, too much vitamin A must be avoided.

[infomaniac in reply to SmallBlueThing]

I had to read that a few times and i'm still not sure it's sunk in! So we need Vit A to convert T4 to T3 and if we have excess beta carotene it builds up in the body?

I have dreadful problems with night vision and was taking the supplement to see if it would help as I have read before it isn't recommended to take Vit A. Would I be better off taking Vit A, maybe just occasionally?

I have felt really shattered lately and have lost the outer part of my eyebrows but I had put it down to Ashwagandha not agreeing with me but now it seems Lutein is probably worse! Those Macushield supps cost a fortune too

[humanbean in reply to infomaniac]

I take real vitamin A rather than one of the precursors of vitamin A. I started earlier this year and I did (and still do) feel better for it.

The one I take is retinyl palmitate. I've also read that retinyl (or retinol?) acetate is acceptable. Please read up on these yourself, because I'm typing from memory and could have got it wrong.

When I run out of my current bottle of vitamin A I will give it a rest for a few months. I'm aware that it has a reputation for being dangerous in high quantities, and am aware it can build up in the liver.

[infomaniac in reply to humanbean]

Hmmm it might be worth buying some and taking them occasionally. Why is this flipping condition so damn complicated!!

[SmallBlueThing in reply to infomaniac]

According to this study ( ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/233... ) TSH dropped, T3 increased and T4 decreased with vitamin A supplementation, leading one to believe that the conversion of T4 to T3 was improved.

We know beta-carotene can build up in the bodies of the hypothyroid, and lutein may similarly build up or further stress a poorly-performing liver.

Vegetarians and especially vegans could be at a greater disadvantage with their vitamin A status, worsening their hypothyroidism.

Retinyl palmitate is what to look for in a supplement, but you don't want it in a vegetable/soy oil capsule. Liver, chopped and cooked with plenty of onions is palatable -- once or twice a fortnight would be safe.

Astaxanthin may help in a similar way to lutein for eye health.

[infomaniac in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Thanks so much for that info SmallBlueThing I am on the hunt for Vit A/Retinyl palmitate but it's a bit hard to find. If a supplement says "palmitate" is that enough? It will have to be capsules as I couldn't eat liver!

I have just googled Astaxanthin and found it's a carotenoid as well, like lutein, but just to confuse me even more this one seems to be recommended for the Thyroid!

[whispers60 in reply to SmallBlueThing]

this study was done on healthy premensupausal and ibese women, I couldn't see where it was subject to women with thyroid problems? tests done on healthy people do not equate to the same outcome on people with health problems

[SmallBlueThing in reply to whispers60]

Will lab rats do?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/678...

[SilverAvocado]

Wow, really interesting about these precursors turning the skin orange!

My mother has orange areas in the skin round her eyes, where you'd have dark circles. Years ago she had a range of tests which eventually turned up that she had multiple myeloma, a bone/blood cancer. But that didn't seem to be an explanation for the orange skin.

She has stabilized the cancer entirely using supplements and food, but the orange skin is still there. It may be a lot better now, though, we don't think about it much these days