Thyroid Glandular Supplements

[ockerdoc]

Does anybody take Thyroid Glandulars to supplement Levothyroxine? So these will have had the T4 and T3 removed to leave the the T2 T1 etc. Just wondered if anyone knew of a good brand in the uk.

[pennyannie]

Thyroid glandular is Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains trace elements of T1 T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 and a measure of T4 in each tablet -

and derived from pig thyroids - dried and ground down into tablets and referred to as grains.

Depending on brand you are looking at around 9mcg T3 + 38 mcg T4 in each grain :

NDT was the original first successful treatment for hypothyroidism for over 100 years and long before we had the science of blood tets, ranges and guidelines - until Big Pharma launched their T3 and T4 synthetic options - on the back of NDT in around the middle of the last century.

[ockerdoc in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you 🙏 maybe it’s just a supplement then. I have seen glandular supplements out there that remove the T4 and T3 so it can be taken along side your medication.

[pennyannie in reply to ockerdoc]

I don't know what you are looking at but the thyroid just produces trace elements of T1,T2 and calcitonin and I'm not aware we have a measure on these - but the thyroid also produces on a daily basis around 10 mcg T3 + 100 mcg T4 :

A glandular tends to signify it's the whole gland - which would be NDT - which is what I take and in the UK needs a prescription though was freely available through the NHS until around 2000 - but now blacklisted by the NHS.

I also take an Adrenal glandular and it is said to contain the whole of the bovine adrenal gland and does not specify any breakdown measurement of the content.

[ockerdoc in reply to pennyannie]

Ok thank you 🙏

[helvella Administrator in reply to ockerdoc]

I've seen that claim many times. Or variations such as they only remove the T4 but not the T3.

First, I am not aware of any technique for removing thyroid hormones but nothing else.

Second, almost all such claims appear to originate with vendors trying to avoid regulation (e.g. by the FDA or MHRA).

Third, even if such a technique does exist, applying it would undermine all the claims of it being a "natural" product.

Fourth, vendors never explain what it does, how it works, with no thyroid hormones.

Fifth, there is no obvious way of assessing potency if the usual markers (T4 and T3) are not present.

Until I understand more, I remain deeply sceptical and unconvinced.

[ockerdoc in reply to helvella]

Thank you 🙏 I don’t think I’ll buy any then just in case.

[DippyDame in reply to pennyannie]

Thyroid glandular is Natural Desiccated Thyroid

Thyroid Glandulars are not to be confused with Natural Desiccated Thyroid/NDT....I've posted the difference in response to  ockerdoc

Glandulars are supplements but have no stated hormone content whereas NDT contains approx 38mcg T4 and 9 mcg T3 per grain depending on the manufacturer

[helvella Administrator in reply to DippyDame]

Not all desiccated thyroid has the same T4/T3 content. For example, Erfa has 35 micrograms of T4 and 8 micrograms of T3 per grain.

I suspect this results from what happened when they changed from "real" grains to either 60 or 65 milligrams "metric" grains. Some retaining the same potency per milligram while others retained potency per grain (whether that is 60 or 65 milligrams)!

[DippyDame in reply to helvella]

Sorry....missed out " approx"

Thank you.

[pennyannie in reply to DippyDame]

Yes - thank you - I think it's all in the wording of a ' supplement ' - as there is no defined measure of any of the content :

[DippyDame]

NDT....

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Thyroid Glandulars...

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Hope this helps.

[ockerdoc in reply to DippyDame]

Great thank you 🙏

[Noelnoel]

I thought you’d bought Metavive to try. Not started it yet?

[ockerdoc in reply to Noelnoel]

Yes I did buy some but I couldn’t sleep on it 🤷‍♀️ kept me wide awake I don’t know why. I had to stop it unfortunately. So I was thinking of a glandular to take along side my synthroid. I have seen some glandulars that claim to take out the T3 T4. But i don’t think I’ll bother. I may try again with the metavive just in case it was something else. I was looking at forefronthealth they do a glandular with really good reviews so I may try that.

[Noelnoel]

Possibly because you were taking Metavive ll. Should always start on Metavive l or lll and work up very slowly. Could also be that bovine would suit you better.

I believe I mentioned caution with it. Possibly in a pm

[ockerdoc in reply to Noelnoel]

Yes could be maybe I’ll half the dose n try that thanks 🙏