Tyrosine

[jand123]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Tyrosine and Tyrosint ? Thank you

[helvella Administrator]

Tyrosine is an amino acid - one of the standard 20 we see our bodies made of. The thyroid hormones are based on two molecules of tyrosine joined together - and iodine atoms attached.

Tirosint is a form of levothyroxine where the active ingredient is combined with glycerol and water and put in a shell of gelatin. That it, is has fewer excipients than levothyroxine tablets or oral solutions (liquids).

You can read the manufacturer's claims for Tirosint here:

tirosint.com/

(It is manufactured in Switzerland but they sell a lot in the USA.)

More information in my documents which you might find useful/interesting:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/12N...

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

Please don't get put off by the number of pages!

Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/1ZW...

[jand123 in reply to helvella]

Helvella, thanks for the reply . My doc wants me to add T4 to my T3 and I was just wondering if it would be an alternative. But I think I understand what you are saying! I guess it’s no good. Just easier to get hold of !

[helvella Administrator in reply to jand123]

We see the odd person who takes tyrosine. But the most you could hope for, I suspect, is that doing so makes more tyrosine available to your thyroid. (Obviously, you'd also need sufficient iodine available.)

If you were deficient in tyrosine, that would make sense. But it is usually present in significant quantities in our diets.

[radd in reply to helvella]

jand123

hellvella, ‘We see the odd person who takes tyrosine. But the most you could hope for, I suspect, is that doing so makes more tyrosine available to your thyroid. (Obviously, you'd also need sufficient iodine available.)'

You would also need a thyroid gland! 😁. And then just like iodine I read tyrosine can have unwanted stimulatory/suppression effects (unless one was actually deficient in it).

It's good if you are low in dopamine but then it's preferable to optimise actual thyroid hormones to balance neurotransmitter deficiencies. And if we are thyroid gland-less there is no point in taking it anyway. As a side note I took 75mcg iodine last year (it was in a combo) and nothing happened because I am thyroid-less.

[jand123 in reply to radd]

Hi Radd, I have my thyroid, but taking T3 only. My bloods are low in T4 and I was hoping for an easier way of increasing my T4 levels without going to Italy to get Tirosint. I am not sure if I have an answer really on this! the tech answers go over my head and I am not stupid 😀

[jand123 in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella, so bottom line. If I took iodine and tyrosine, would that boost my T4 levels?

[helvella Administrator in reply to jand123]

That is not how I would look at it.

If you were not getting enough tyrosine, then supplementing tyrosine would increase what is available.

If you were not getting enough iodine, then supplementing iodine would increase what is available.

But, it is generally inadvisable to supplement with iodine unless you know you are low in iodine.

If your thyroid is not capable of producing more thyroid hormone, or if it is not being told to do so, then supplementing tyrosine and/or iodine would not increase the amount of thyroid hormone it produces.

[jand123 in reply to helvella]

Ok thanks, then I need to buy the Tirosint to increase T4