Does Calcium affect Levothyroxine Absorption

[jostafford0]

Hi all - I wondered if anyone had more information on calcium and whether it interacts with Levothyroxine? I'd read somewhere that Calcium affect Levo absorption that's why it's best to go on a dairy free diet, although I am dairy free my oat milk is fortified with calcium and I'd been using this in my porridge every morning. Can anyone advise if this would affect the absorption of Levo? (I take my Levo as soon as I wake at 7am with filtered water and eat my porridge at 9am). Thanks so much, Jo.

[greygoose]

I don't think fortified oat milk would affect the absorption of your levo, especially not after two hours. It's calcium supplements that would be a problem, which is why it's suggested to leave a gap of four hours between thyroid hormone and calcium. But, there wouldn't be enough in food to make a difference.

People don't go on dairy-free diets because the calcium affects their absorption of thyroid hormone, but because they don't tolerate dairy very well. I usually have cream cheese for breakfast and milk in my tea, but it doesn't affect my thyroid hormone.

[jostafford0 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose, thanks for clarifying, I was worried it was another thing I had to try and avoid. Regards Jo

[greygoose in reply to jostafford0]

Are you avoiding a lot of things, then?

[jostafford0 in reply to greygoose]

Yes, I try to be dairy & gluten free so it can be tricky sometimes (I also have ulcerative colitis & endometriosis as well as Hashi’s). A lot of dairy free milks now have fortified vitamins & minerals which is great if it doesn’t interfere with meds.

[greygoose in reply to jostafford0]

Well, it rather depends what they're fortified with.

Does dairy upset your colitis and endometriosis?

[jostafford0 in reply to greygoose]

I was advised to go dairy free after a colitis flare which could be a coincidence but it always shows up as an intolerance on every food intolerance test I’ve done, plus I’ve never liked milk since a child. I like cheese though!

[greygoose in reply to jostafford0]

I couldn't live without butter! So, fortunately, dairy doesn't affect me. Do you still cut out cheese? Cheese, cream and butter aren't as bad as milk and yoghurt.

[jostafford0 in reply to greygoose]

I used to eat a yoghurt every day, milk with my tea, coffee & porridge and have cheese & butter on my jacket potato but I cut it all out to begin with. I now have cheese once in a while but I've never gone back on the yoghurts and drink only oat or hemp milk. I don't have many colitis flares at all now so there must be something true about dairy & colitis connection.

[greygoose in reply to jostafford0]

Well, that sounds good. You've done the right thing. It's a shame, though.

[Lalatoot]

Yes calcium can affect absorbtion. Calcium supplements should be taken 4 hours away from levo. With milk and dairy or your oat milk at the quantity of calcium you would ingest an hour or two gap should be fine. For some folks if absorbtion is comprised it only means that they are on a slightly higher dose of levo to compensate.

[jostafford0 in reply to Lalatoot]

Hi Lalaloot, thank you for your reply. I’m trying to get to my optimum level on Levo but it’s hard as so much stuff stops its absorption & conversion. I have problems with conversion so trying to explore everything. It’s so frustrating as GP’s don’t care about nutritional deficiencies & conversion issues.

[Lalatoot in reply to jostafford0]

That is because they don't test FT3 or understand the difference between the words normal and optimal. If they tested TSH, FT4 and FT3 it could be used to indicate those who were failing to convert. If they understood that normal comes as a range and that each patient is optimal usually somewhere within that normal range it might just stop them glibly telling folk that their results are normal.

[GeaVox]

the answer is yes, on Clcium, but, rather than answer with my own, limited understanding, I thought I would supply some links to on the subject:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

drugsdetails.com/can-you-ta...