Another interesting post from Prof Smith. PR
"In contrast with a long list of over 70 medical research articles on low T3 syndrome that excluded thyroid patients, I have only found three (3) studies so far that included patients being treated for hypothyroidism."
Thanks for posting this interesting article. I particularly liked:-
"The article focused on trying to understand what the biological “cause” was of their abnormal thyroid lab test results. The clinician tweaked their therapy, but giving them more T4 did not fix it.
The main puzzle for the author was that these people were not ill enough to require hospitalization, even though they were both suffering horribly with symptoms.
In science, even one negative example can disprove a theory and should spawn inquiry.
Theory disproven = that illness is the only cause of low T3 syndrome.
A nonthyroidal “illness” is not needed to “cause” low T3 in people with hypothyroidism who are on T4 monotherapy. All they need is an oversupply of T4 they can’t metabolize.
And you guessed it–adding T4 won’t help them.
Unlike Somppi’s study, it wasn’t a study of the relationship between their FT3 levels and their symptoms or health outcomes over the long term. It was just a short term comparative case study.
If on thyroid hormone therapy, then getting seriously nonthyroidally ill leads to great difficulty in deciding what if anything to change. When not NT-ill beforehand, we assume that the patient was reasonably stable on therapy. That is the balance between dosage eg T4, and T3 production was "adequate" if not optimal. Now an NTI comes in and the T4-T3 conversion will be reduced. So is the lower FT3 a necessary defence mechanism or an unwelcome development? Should one try to raise FT3 directly by T3 supplementation? It isn't an easy thing to answer, and more harm may be done, rather than keeping dosage as it is and relying on the body to convert as required.
This is of interest, though I doubt anyone in the wider medical profession would take seriously any research with so few participants. Professor Smith also highlights other failings of the studies.
My health problems started soon after an environmental catastrophe was caused by incompetent building workers who failed to seal the roof of my house during works to re-roof. That particular night we had a deluge and the water ingress resulted in the entire outer bedroom wall being covered in mould.
Within weeks I was hospitalised and under investigation, the conclusion being I had ME/CFS following tonsillitis (which occurred at around the same time as the water ingress).
There is increasing research on the issue of mould causing health problems and as the Somppi study shows, there seems to be a correlation with thyroid problems.
Coincidentally, in advance of an appointment with my GP, I've just sent her an overview of my health difficulties over the past 40 years, starting with the first instance of ME and its associated hypothyroid-like symptoms. I've mooted the possibility that the inhalation of mould spores might have had an impact on my health. I've also provided my TFT results over several years (see profile) which show chronic (not acute) low FT3.
Looking at Somppi's study it looks as though it chimes with my experience. Except I have never been diagnosed with hypothyroidism so have never been given treatment.
I'll have a closer look at the article and see if it would be worth taking to my appointment next week, but for reasons already given, it might be dismissed.
Does he also believe that tobacco smoking cures lung cancer?
The Myth that T3 causes Heart Problems?
Low T3 identified in deaths from heart attack
Low T3 Syndrome in CFS and Fibromyalgia
Size of Thyroid and T3 Levels
Thyroid T3 low
