Best Desiccated Thyroid Supplement?

[taylor123]

Hey everybody,

I am about to start taking desiccated thyroid and wanted to get some opinions on the best brand out there?

I'm Male, 39 years old.

I have had Hashimoto's for some time now. I'm attaching a screenshot of all my previous results for anybody interested.

My thyroid originally swung hyper back in 2018 before settling at hypo.

I have never taken any thyroid supplement, but after being exposed to the work of Ray Peat and subsequently seeing that my basal body temperate averages at 35.5, I know that is not good for health.

And even though a TSH of 5 is classed as normal, I know really it needs to be below 1.

I heard WP Thyroid was the best? But then read some reviews that they changed it and now its not as good?

My Mum takes Thyroid-S and has over a years supply, but I also hear they have stopped making that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

My perception, and I do not take it myself, is that the best is the one that gives you the best results.

I don't think it is something that you can really pre-judge - unless there are specific ingredients which you know will cause problems.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Taylor123

"I know really it needs to be below 1."

That applies to people who are on levothyroxine.

Different brands of NDT suit different people.

Thyroid-S is actually the only Thai thyroid brand now produced. Thiroyd and TR have both stopped production. However, Thyroid-S is currently difficult to obtain and has recently become much more expensive.

I am wondering why your GP didn't start you on Levo in 2018 when you had 3 tests with TSH over 10.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

As you have been hypothyroid for at least two years since Aug 2018 these are likely very low, unless you have been supplementing

Low vitamin levels frequently result in TSH dropping

Are you on strictly gluten free diet or tried it?

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten intolerance. Second most common is lactose intolerance

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[taylor123]

Thanks for the message.

Yes I take 10,000iu D3 with K2 daily and a high quality B supplement (Thorne)

I am not a fan of iron supplements for various reasons.

I had my gut microbiome mapped and my genome and it back i synthesise B6 poorly.

I actually went gluten free when I first thought I was Hyper and thought it worked when my bloods started swinging back, but of course i ended up Hypo, like my Mother and Great Grandmother.

I am open to trying it again. As per the work of Dr. Tom O'Bryan, I know gluten is not good anyway.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to taylor123]

taylor123

I take 10,000iu D3 with K2 daily

That is a high dose. How long have you been taking that amount for? When did you last test and what was your level?

Do you take magnesium, an important cofactor of D3?

[mandyjane]

There are lots of different brands of NDT and it is a matter of finding which one suits. I would suggest going for the cheapest and most easily available first. I have found thyrogold the most reliable to obtain as bovine and not considered a medication so legal to sell. seem to have less problems but it might not suit you. Once you have found one to suit buy as much as you can.

[BadHare]

I liked the old WP best, followed by the old Nature Throid. Thyroid S made me itch & even a minuscule dose of Thyro Gold made me itch & burn all over. After giving those away, someone suggested taking antihistamines though I prefer meds without side effects. After trying the new Nature Throid & finding it ok, but not the price increase plus import taxes, I tried Metavive (sold as a supplement with both porcine & bovine forms) that’s available online in the UK. It works out about the same price & I’ve found it good enough to warrant a third order. I top up with T3 depending on what I’m doing.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

But that will be only whilst stocks last.