ndt and osteopenia

[TheresaGreen1967]

Hi, I have low thyroid and been on Ndt now for some months and feeling great, 1 1/2 am 1 pm. I have just been diagnosed with osteopenia which can be the start of osteoporosis. Watching YouTube physio’s one pointed out that low thyroid meds can contribute to our bodies not being able build bones. I think he said high doses. I can’t find any info on this. Does anyone know anything if there is a link? I woukd have had this with low thyroid as suffered for years with no help. Ndt has changed my life so I want to understand this better. Thank you

[Jazzw]

Well, I’ll start out with some reassurance. 1.5 (or is that 2.5 grains??) is not a high dose of thyroid hormone replacement.

In fact, reducing your dose would probably accelerate bone issues rather than make things better. If you’ve been hypothyroid for a long time (and many people have been by the time they start taking thyroid replacement hormones) then the chances are you’ve been deficient in Vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, B vitamins and iron/ferritin for quite some time. That’s because untreated hypothyroidism results in poor gut absorption of vitamins and minerals from the food we eat.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

yes LOW thyroid hormone with undiagnosed or inadequately treated hypothyroidism can cause osteoporosis

great article explaining

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

Essential to always test Ft4 and Ft3

It’s not TSH that’s important, it’s the actual thyroid hormone levels

And maintain GOOD vitamin levels, especially vitamin D and magnesium

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Exactly…..and taking any replacement thyroid hormone will lower TSH …but especially any that contain T3

But low TSH in isolation doesn’t mean over medication

[buddy99]

Even research papers I have read seem to "confuse" low TSH with T3/T4 being way above the reference interval. Whether I came to the right conclusion or not (?), I have decided that as long as FT3 and FT4 are within the interval, the TSH is of no consequence. I do have osteoporosis and every now and then question my conclusion, but, then again, I developed it with "normal" TSH, below interval FT3 and extremely deficient vitamin D level. I assume that those were the driving factors. If my low TSH is also causing osteoporosis now, then I find myself in a no-win situation.

[Easylover]

1.5 NDT is only one and a half grains which is a low dose to most. I take 4 grains a day.