Cholesterol won’t budge

[RachelP03]

Hello, my husband is on a combination of T4/T3 and has been increasing his T3 slowly over the past few months. He now feels quite well. However, recent blood tests suggest that his cholesterol hasn’t come down or moved at all even with the increasing T3 which we all had hoped would happen (it came down initially when he first started T3 but then went back up again). He is on a low dose of T4 so his T4 has never been particularly high. So, anyone any ideas or suggestions? Is it simply a waiting game for the T3 to take effect or does he need a complete diet overhaul or any other suggestions? Anyone any other experience?Many thanks.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Three months ago you said your husbands levels were the worst ever. T3 can't perform miracles unless he is taking enough of both T3 and T4 (Levo).

What were his latest results with ranges (numbers in brackets after your result number)?

[Pearlteapot]

My diet is cholesterol perfect by my understanding of things. Plenty of olive oil, avocado, oily fish, greens. No bad fat at all and low carb. My HDL is bottom of range, has deteriorated, LDL is near top of range. Low HDL is associated with hyperthyroidism so I’m wondering if it’s an indication of too much t3. I’m waiting for a test result. But it’s very difficult to get these things in balance, that’s for sure.

It could also be that I’m not exercising enough Exercise improves HDL is your husband active?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

His T4 was under range and his T3 was in the lower quartile.

Most people when adequately treated on T4 and T3 will have Ft3 at least 60-70% through range, and often need Ft4 at least at similar level

How much T3 and Levo is he taking

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually, likely to be low if on inadequate dose thyroid hormones

Day before test split T3 as 3 smaller doses spread across the day with last dose Approx 8-12 hours before test

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[RachelP03]

Here are the results. He hasn’t changed his T4 dose (he is on 50mcg) and his T3 is 40mcg which has just put him above the range for T3. Given the T3 is the active hormone and he has issues converting, he looks ok to me given he feels ok.

Results

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to RachelP03]

To be able to read these results we need to know when he last took his levo & T3 prior to the blood draw. For Levo 24hrs is recommended, T3 8-12 hours. This is to show stable blood levels as opposed to the initial peak after taking either hormone.

If he's on 40mcgs T3 theres barely any point in taking the 50mcg Levo and he may as well be on monotherapy. That doesn't suit everyone though and some people need both FT4 & FT3 balanced at around 70% of the range.

What vitamins is he taking and what were his latest results for ferritin, folate B12 & D3?

[greygoose]

Rachel, you do know that cholesterol is nothing to worry about, don't you? It doesn't cause strokes or heart attacks. It is a necessary nutrient that the body needs. Your body is pretty much made up of cholesterol - cell walls, brain, sex hormones. Cholesterol is also used for general maintenance of the body. However, Big Pharma has latched to a sure-fire way of making money by scaring people to death about it and convincing them to take their potentially dangerous drug: statins.

Cholesterol is made in the liver, it has little to do with diet - and certainly nothing to do with fat, which is another nutrient entirely. The liver does it's best to keep cholesterol levels steady, so the more you consume, the less it makes and vice versa. However, when T3 is low, the body cannot process cholesterol correctly and it tends to build up in the blood. However, it does not clog up the arteries because it is safely contained in the protein carriers: HDL and LDL - neither of which are good or bad, they just are.

However, there is another reason for high cholesterol levels, and that is when there is damage to the arteries caused by inflammation. The cholesterol comes along and covers up the damaged area like a sticking plaster, until it heals. When it is healed, the cholesterol is absorbed into the cell walls. But it is that damage/inglammation that causes heart attacks, not the cholesterol itself. Cholesterol has a job to do. Reduce the levels by too much and it cannot do its job, which is why low levels are more dangerous than high.