cholesterol

[pabhoo]

hi has anyone got a link between cholesterol and thyroid and that the thyroid if properly medicated ,can help get rid of high cholesterol without the use of other medication... I think I know wot I'm saying .hope someone understands lol

thanks

[Greekchick]

Hi pabhoo,

If you type cholesterol and thyroid into the search box, you will see posts about this and people have provided links to scientific articles. I hope this helps. All the best.

[pabhoo in reply to Greekchick]

brilliant.thank you

[ling]

Here's a link re thyroid and lipids but more in relation to how it affects in hyperthyroidism.

I would think that similarly, when the hypothyroid condition is brought under control, cholesterol levels should return to reflecting what's really the case.

GRAVES AND THYROTOXICOSIS : LIPIDS, PROTEIN METABOLISM

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[pabhoo in reply to ling]

thank you

[shaws Administrator in reply to pabhoo]

This is a list of clinical symptoms and you'll see a higher cholesterol level is one of them. Unfortunately, due to GPs/endos being unaware of any symptoms some will prescribe statins to reduce cholesterol, when - in fact - as your thyroid hormones are increased your cholesterol will reduce. They will also give other prescriptions for 'symptoms' without ensuring the patients' TSH is around 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 are in the upper part of the ranges. From link below you can see how many symptoms there are and I doubt a professional knows any at all. They seem to be fixated on the TSH alone.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Calends]

HI. Hypothyroidism had pushed my cholesterol up to dangerous levels. It dropped nearly 30 points on the first 6/8 weeks on Levo. So the two are connected. I wish you well. This is a tough condition and seems to mess with everything.

[fiftyone]

I believe there is a link between thyroid hormones and cholesterol. I read that before sophisticated tests, doctors used this relationship to diagnose problems. I know, myself, that while I am well medicted with thyroid hormones my cholesterol is always normal. I remember after blood tests, the doctor remarked at my normal cholesterol levels. I mentioned it was because I am properly medicated with thyroid hormones (doctor says too much). He acknowledged this could be the case.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’m doing exactly the same research at the moment. I’m in remission from Graves’ disease and the most recent blood test I had - I take hydroxychloroquine for arthritis so I get annual blood and eye test to make sure it isn’t doing any damage, anyway, my cholesterol and unfortunately my triglycerides too, are a bit, well very high.

The test results came back next day and I got a phone call - so much for ‘wait a week and give us a call’. I was asked to see my named GP, that was a few weeks ago - she works part time though and I’ve given up trying to get an appointment!

I know she will most likely mention statins. I tried them once many years ago and within a week I could barely walk and felt really depressed so I eventually stopped.

What I discovered was that when I was totally hyper my cholesterol was very low - lowest I have ever seen it.

Now I’ve been in remission for six years my TSH is creeping up and I’m becoming more hypo, not enough to get me ‘out of the range!’ And cholesterol levels are probably the highest they’ve ever been.

When I finally do get to see my GP - I can’t even book online because her diary doesn’t go far enough into the future and I’m going away for a few weeks. I’m going to remind her of that.

Last time I spoke to her I pointed out that I was sure there was a kink between cholesterol levels and the thyroid because of what I said at the start. She smiled sweetly and nodded in agreement, unfortunately this was at the end of the consultation just as I was leaving.

This time I’m going to push for some levo to bring my TSH down towards 1. I don’t hold out much hope. To me it would seem to be a much safer alternative than statins.

Like Greekchick says - google ‘cholesterol levels and thyroid’ and you will find loads of evidence. Turns out it used to be that doctors were advised to check thyroid levels before starting on statins.

Please let us ( me especially) know if you get anywhere with getting levo instead of statins.

[pabhoo in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

thanks and I will x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

From NHS website

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[pabhoo in reply to SlowDragon]

hi hun. I got that one on my fone home screen for doc xx

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to pabhoo]

Ha, ha, me too for when I finally get there. 😉

[humanbean]

Just for interest...

Some decades ago, when blood tests for hypothyroidism were not available - maybe the 1950s and before, I'm not exactly sure - high cholesterol was considered to be diagnostic for hypothyroidism. So, if the doctor found high cholesterol in a blood test they would diagnose the patient as hypothyroid and treat them accordingly.

[pabhoo in reply to humanbean]

very interesting. thank you ...

[Miffie in reply to humanbean]

Wow that is interesting, I was diagnosed early 1960s and never heard any mention of cholesterol level being raised until sometime after I started on Levo. ( 40 years plus on NHS dessicated initially). Not unusual to learn of symptoms suddenly no longer being valid.

Despite being under medicated I had reduced bad cholesterol level through diet and activity. It may be just luck that it did. My last review suggested it may be “perfect” next review as so close last time. Have changed to self sourced NDT so will be interesting to see. Fingers crossed.

[klr31]

Yes, there is a link.

[pabhoo in reply to klr31]

😁😁👍

[vocalEK]

I am living proof that effective treatment of hypothyroidism can correct hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).

Several stubborn hypo symptoms that were not corrected by adequate doses of Levothyroxine did respond to the addition of Cytomel (FT3). In October of 2017, when my FT4 was 2.08 (0.60 - 1.70 ng/mL) and TSH was 0.803 (0.300 - 4.200 uIU/mL) my Total Cholesterol was 230 (<=200 mg/dL) and LDL was 150 (<=100 mg/dL).

In July of 2019, my FT4 was 1.5 (0.60 - 1.70 ng/mL) and TSH was 0.02 (0.300 - 4.200 uIU/mL) my Total Cholesterol was down to 192 and LDL was 109. In addition, the good kind, HDL, went from 58 to 65 (>=40 mg/dL).

But I am just an "anecdote" -- a case study (the lowest form, possibly, of a clinical trial).

Here is some published research on the subject:

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

"Overt hypothyroidism is a secondary cause of hyperlipidemia and associated coronary heart disease.2 Cholesterol profiles may be improved by treating overt hypothyroidism."

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

"Biochemical screening for thyroid dysfunction is critical in all dyslipidemic patients, as well as in all patients with unexpected improvement or worsening of their lipid profile. Underlying thyroid disorders should be recognized and treated in this setting."

endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...

"A growing body of research finds that both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism can put you at a greater risk for high blood cholesterol, a leading and controllable cause of cardiovascular disease.1"

[pabhoo]

hi. when I say I dont eat fat. j dont fry food or eat fat as in bacon rind fatty lamb although I do like a bit of lamb chop I grill all food or oven cook

[pabhoo]

I'll look tomorrow as I'm at work just now till late