Soy Isoflavones and Levothyroxine

[celticlady]

I've recently started taking soy isoflavones to counteract some post- menopausal symptoms. There seems to be conflicting reports re the effects , some say take the supplements hours after the Levo, some say don't take it as it interferes with the absorption of thyroxine. I've started to feel a bit better but only been taking for 10 days but would appreciate any anecdotal evidence either way!

[celticlady]

Thank you, yes I read about the links between breast cancer and oestrogen so didn't do HRT just struggled on. Some of the symptoms I get I've blamed on being hypothyroid but I think a lot are due to low oestrogen. I might lay off the isoflavones as lots of reports saying they affect thyroid negatively. Apparently alcohol is full of oestrogen -might stick to that instead!

[thyr01d]

Hi Celticlady, my experience is that soy made no difference to my thyroid meds efficacy. As a vegan I find it very difficult to take in enough protein, especially when away from home, but having read about the bad effect of soy on the thyroid I cut it out for several months. I didn't notice any difference either without it or afterwards when I reintroduced it. Having said that though I am on T3 with a TSH of 95, coma level, without the T3, and perhaps when your thyroid is doing almost nothing it can't get worse so maybe you need people with better thyroid function to comment. Also, I seem better since starting oestrogen, I take less T3 now, reduced my dose by one-fifth.