I’m still on a learning curve but am a bit confused about how the NDT referred to in many posts , which seems very difficult to get hold of, differs from the freeze dried Thyroid concentrate, which is available in the UK? I know the latter is in tablet form each 140 mg so I assume we don’t know how much ‘ active ingredient ‘ that is ? Whereas users of NDT seem to talk about grains?
Would be grateful for any explanation 😊
NDT has defined levels of thyroid hormones in each dose. Freeze dried thyroid extract may or may not contain any hormones at all.
Yes I thought that the NDT was more clinical and measurable . Surprised that the freeze dried probably contains no hormone , wonder what it does contain that would ‘ help thyroid function ‘ ?
It might contain hormones. But the theory about glandulars is that somehow they support the gland they are made from.
The main difference is that NDT is prescription only (in theory) and the freeze-dried stuff is OTC, because it doesn't specify a hormone content (probably doesn't have any) and is therefore considered to be a 'nutritional supplement'.
It is, of course, possible to get NDT on-line without a prescription, and it is just certain brands that are difficult to get hold of, for whatever reason. If you're able to take any brand, then you can always find something. What is very, very difficult is getting NDT prescribed in the UK - and it's even illegal in France!
I’m surprised that the freeze dried stuff probably doesn’t contain any hormone . I wonder what the benefit of taking it would be then ?
Romilly2
Are you talking about NutriAdvanced Nutri Thyroid? That comes in 140mg tablets.
If so then their description says that it is "hormone free" in which case it wont contain any thyroid hormone - T4 and T3 - which NDT does.
nutriadvanced.co.uk/nutri-t...
Yes that’s the one . So if it’s hormone free I wonder what the active component is supposed to be ?
Don't we all!
Either "hormone free" doesn't mean what most of us would think - that it contains no thyroid hormones - or it works for reasons we neither know nor understand.
The mysteries of the thyroid 😊 I do remember taking it 10 years ago when I first had a viral Thyroiditis and I felt ‘ better on it ‘ . But may have been that I was recovering naturally at the time . I have no record of blood results from that time as I was very ignorant of the whole thyroid picture .
One of the questions which persistently remains unanswered is how they can remove the thyroid hormone - but nothing else?
The thyroid gland is prepared by removing any fat and cleaning the gland. It is then freeze-dried which ensures that all essential active nutrients, including enzymes, are retained. There is no heat or solvents used in the process.
Yes surely any thyroid hormone within the cells would remain but unquantifiable? Perversely I wonder how the thyroid hormone is extracted in exact quantities then dessicated as in NDT ? ( Did A level chemistry but that was a looooong time ago , used slide rules instead of computers 😆)
The thyroid hormone isn't really in the cells. The structure of the thyroid consists of follicles - like igloos made of cells. The contents is mostly a protein-based subsrance thyroglobulin. Once the wall of cells is breached that content is accessible even if many individual blocks (cells) remain intact.
The hormone is NOT extracted as such when making desiccated thyroid. It is just powdered thyroid. Mutiple batches are analysed and blended to ensure a consistent thyroid hormone content. (There is some suggestion that tiny amounts of T3 might need to be added, at least sometimes, to ensure consistency.) As necessary, it is diluted (usually with a sugar- sometimes lactose). When you have standardised powder, the tablets can be produced.
Thankyou, learning everyday 😊 The ‘ breaching of the wall’ also explains the release of the contents in a Hashimotos type flush of hormone leading to a period of excess giving rise to hyperthyroid symptoms. Going back to the nutri thyroid , it seems then it could be a case of Russian roulette with each tablet as the content is really unknown ? Not very scientific I know but in my case my T3 T4 seems normal and my TSH is low , I have Hashimotos, so I want to support my thyroid ( doing Hashimoto protocol and goiter is down presently ) I may do an ‘ experiment ‘ and take the Nutri Thyroid ( maybe just 2 tablets daily) then repeat blood in 6 weeks and see the results . All in the cause of research . My symptoms are very low grade compared to many on this site but I want to maybe add to the information base as best so can in some way !
Just found some piccies. 
Romilly2, there are a number of different over the counter products not defined as NDT. I am not familiar with the brand you mention, but some other well known brands are Thyrogold (developed by Dr Lowe) and Metavive, and I'm sure there is at least one other but it's completely slipped out of my mind!
The descriptions of what these are exactly match what NDT is. They often vaguely claim to have zero hormone, but my understanding is that this is a legal/marketing issue. If they claimed to have hormone they would be categorised as medicines and subject to all those rules. Because they don't make any claims they can be defined in less regulated categories.
There has been lots and lots of discussion of these preparations and how strong they are in comparison to NDTs over the years. You will easily find some using the search if you want to. I know at least one member of the Liverpool group has swapped from NDT to Metavive and is doing well on it. I'm now completely sure in my own mind that these are at least partial substitutes for NDT.
I would definitely recommend that anyone stuck on NHS Levothyroxine or even Levo plus T3 look into these and give them a try. It's a much lower barriers to entry way to try NDT. I would say to treat these with respect and dose just as cautiously as you would when dosing any other thyroid hormone - learn a lot before you start and take blood tests and symptom measures when dosing.
Of course the only downside is that because they are not defined and regulated as medicines no one is quite sure whether the dosages are consistent.
Thankyou SilverAvocado , very useful information !
Another thing I probably said a little wrong. The member I know personally who has switched from NDT to Metavive was always taking a small extra dose in addition to the bulk of her dose being more conventional hormone, so it's just a little extra boost. This is probably the safest way to try it out at least at first.
NDT and Testosterone
The difference between Armour and Erfa
Is there a difference between the different makes of NDT.
difference between Armour strengths?
At last a trial between NDT and T4 therapy, BUT---
