NDT

[Cecilbenhard]

What are the benefits of natural thyroid medication?

[diogenes Remembering]

First, NDT contains both T4 and T3, which is at least as beneficial as T4 only, and in cases of poor body conversion of T4 to T3, is a better treatment in that the T3 helps to mnimise the effects of conversion problems. Secondly, in NDT most of the T4 and T3 exists bound on to thyroglobulin. It has to be released from this protein in the stomach and intestine. This slows down its uptake into the body, so that the response is smoothed out more. Thirdly, it may be superior to T4/T3 combination, because of this delayed uptake (the naked T4 and T3 enter the body more quickly) which for T3 can give a temporary spike which some think disadvantageous.

[jrbarnes]

I agree that the T3 in natural thyroid has a smoother profile and is delayed in its release compared to synthetic T3. I took it for seven months this year and prefer the T3 in natural desiccated. I stopped using it because there were three recalls in addition to not being able to find a dose that suited me due to the static amounts of T4 and T3. I had to think of long term stability.

[Jazzw]

Looking at your last post, I see you’ve been struggling to get beyond 25mcg levothyroxine and have had some experience with liothyronine too.

In circumstances like yours, where “ordinary” thyroid hormone replacement doesn’t seem to work like it should, there are a couple of things to consider. It could be the fillers in the tablet/capsules that just don’t agree with you—causing symptoms of intolerance. Or—and this is a biggie—you may have low levels of ferritin, Vitamin B12, folate, Vit D. And low levels of vitamins and minerals can make it tricky for your body to deal with having replacement thyroid hormone on board.

So... NDT might be the way to go, although it’s getting increasingly hard to get hold of (supplies of the raw materials—desiccated thyroid—seem to be low across the world right now). But if the reason you’re struggling is because of low vitamin and mineral levels, NDT still may not improve matters as much as you’d hope.

I should say I’m not a doctor—this is observation and lots of background reading. Nothing in the body works in isolation, it’s all about balance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Getting vitamin levels OPTIMAL is essential for any thyroid hormones to work

Come back with new post once you get results

[Cecilbenhard in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks slow dragon.

My test results are as follows:

Serum B12. 1309 ng/l

Vit D 128 nmol/l

Serum folate 16.6

Serum transferrin 2.6

Serum iron level 20 implant/L

Transferrin saturation 31%

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cecilbenhard]

Can you add ranges on these results please