Polyunsaturated fats v saturated fats

[GREENcard13]

I am so confused! I read on another site polyunsaturated fats are bad for people with hypothyroidism and saturated fats are recommended. I tend to follow the Mediterranean way of eating more for heart health and keep slim. This includes oily fish , avocados and nuts which are PUFAs. My GP wanted me to go on statins because my total cholesterol is 6.6 I said no as my ratio was 2.5 and was told years ago this was brilliant. I have good hdl which outweighs my ldl but I'm afraid if I change to saturated fats this could clog my arteries

[greygoose]

Cholesterol and fat are two different substances. One does not change into the other after being eaten.

High cholesterol levels are usually due to low FT3 levels than diet. It's a hypo symptom and used to be used to diagnose hypo - before the wretched TSH test was invented.

I've never heard that polyunsaturated fats were bad for hypos. Why would that be? I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you, and carry on eating the way your do, if it suits you. And get your FT3 tested because it's probably low.

[GREENcard13 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for that. Ideas about diet keep changing. I came across a Dr Shel who also said polyunsaturated fats were bad for hypo too and recommended saturated fats

[greygoose in reply to GREENcard13]

Well, that's the thing, isn't it. One minute fat is bad for you, the next it's essential, same with salt, etc. Very often down to misunderstandings and bad science. I cannot see any reason why it would be bad for hypos but good for everyone else. For myself, I certainly shan't take any notice of it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at your previous post you’re only on 75mcg levothyroxine

That’s quite a low dose Levo

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we need very GOOD vitamin levels

Higher cholesterol linked to lower Ft3 levels

What are your most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 results

Looking at your age on your profile

Lower vitamin levels are much more likely too as we get older

What are your most recent Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[GREENcard13 in reply to SlowDragon]

TSH 0..33T4 23.9

T3 4.1

B12 557

FOLATE 14.9

D 87

IRON 18.6

SERUM IRON 1.78

TRANSFERRIN 41.6

SATURATION IRON 44.7

I couldn't see a reading for ferritin but I understood you shouldn't take IRON supplements in case you have internal bleeding and it wouldn't show I see I'm low on IRON but I rarely eat meat so perhaps I should take a supplement

I'm only taking fish oil , q10 and acidophilus at mo. On a previous blood test my B12 and D were high so I stopped taking them

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GREENcard13]

Was test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Please add ranges on Ft4 and Ft3 …..and folate and iron if listed

B12 and vitamin D

You could now restart taking a daily vitamin B complex and vitamin D

[GREENcard13 in reply to SlowDragon]

No test done at hospital late afternoo6No range D

B12 180...650

T3 310....680

T4 1200....2200

Iron 5.8....35.5

Setup iron 2....3.6

Folate 2.8....15

Thanks for your help

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GREENcard13]

Free T4 (fT4) 23.9 pmol/L (12 - 22) 119.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 27.0%

So you took levothyroxine that morning?

Ft4 false high result if last dose wasn’t 24 hours before test

so Ft4 (levothyroxine) likely within range if tested correctly

But low Ft3 (active hormone)

Likely to benefit from addition of tiny doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Though your age may mean endocrinologist reluctant to prescribe

Roughly where in U.K. are you

Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations

thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

iron reasonable

Iron  18.6  (5.8 - 35.5) 43.1%

B12, folate and vitamin D good

[GREENcard13 in reply to SlowDragon]

Stourbridge West

I must add I been drinking soya milk because I cut out dairy, which I've now stopped and I've had the best day today for ages . I believe it acts unfavourably with the absorption of levothyroxine .

Thanks so much for your help

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GREENcard13]

Definitely avoid ALL soya

Oat milk is great option instead

[GREENcard13 in reply to SlowDragon]

Unfortunately I'm allergic to oats and I love porridge. Just thought i've had goats milk in the past I'm ok with that .Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GREENcard13]

Retest thyroid levels 6 weeks after being strictly soya free