Hi,
I am from a family of 6 and 4 have thyroid issues and I suspect the other two are in denial.
3 of us are on T4/T3.
My eldest sister now feels the need to get onto T3 but being told that at 70+, if her bones are thin then she cant have it.
Is there any defuinitive testing that shows a correlation between thyroid T4/T3 and extra bone density issues?
LOW Ft3 can be a cause of osteoporosis or osteopenia
Not just increased risk with high Ft3
thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...
Osteoporosis and iron deficiency
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
What are her most recent thyroid and vitamin results
What vitamin supplements is she taking
Presumably her hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to confirm if hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Hi there, I can definitely relate to your situation. Thyroid issues run in my family as well—several of us are on T4/T3, and we’ve had similar concerns, especially when it comes to managing thyroid medication and its impact on other health areas like bone density.
Regarding your sister, there is some evidence suggesting that long-term use of thyroid hormones, especially T3, can have an effect on bone density, particularly in older adults. This is because high levels of thyroid hormones can speed up bone turnover, leading to thinning bones or even osteoporosis over time.
When my mom, who’s in her late 60s, was considering adjusting her thyroid meds, her doctor recommended a bone density scan (DEXA scan) before making any changes. The scan gave them a clear picture of her bone health, and they were able to adjust her medication while keeping her bones safe. I would definitely suggest your sister ask for a bone density scan if she hasn’t had one recently. It’s a simple test, and it can give her and her doctor the information they need to balance her thyroid treatment without putting her bones at risk.
Hope this helps! It’s always tricky finding that balance, but staying proactive with testing can make all the difference.
Thanks for your reply and I will pass on the info.
janicedrew, ' there is some evidence suggesting that long-term use of thyroid hormones, especially T3, can have an effect on bone density, particularly in older adults.'
Can you please give us more info about this. Links to relevant research papers etc to help back up your statement? 😊
Thank you for your thoughtful question! My comment was based on both personal experience and some existing research. I've personally noticed that while thyroid hormone therapy (particularly T3) has been very helpful for managing hypothyroidism, it’s important to monitor bone health, especially as we age.
For me, regular bone density scans have become part of my health regimen to ensure that any potential risks are managed. This practice is especially crucial because some studies have suggested that long-term use of thyroid hormones, particularly T3, can influence bone turnover, leading to reduced bone density over time.
In older adults, excess thyroid hormone levels (even within the upper end of normal ranges) can sometimes mimic hyperthyroidism, accelerating bone loss. I make sure to keep my levels regularly checked with my healthcare provider to balance my thyroid health and bone density.
Here are a few studies and papers that touch on this topic:
Thyroid hormone and bone: Research has shown that long-term use of levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3) can affect bone density, especially if doses are high or poorly monitored. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology discusses this in more detail:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Thyroid hormone and osteoporosis risk: A paper from The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2016) looked into the relationship between TSH levels and bone health in postmenopausal women, showing that suppressed TSH can accelerate bone loss. You can read the study here: academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Monitoring bone health in thyroid patients: Regular bone scans (DEXA) and blood tests for calcium and vitamin D levels are often recommended for those on long-term thyroid hormone therapy. This helps to ensure that the medication is not negatively impacting bone density over time.
I hope this helps clarify the reasoning behind my comment. Managing thyroid health involves a holistic approach, and for me, keeping an eye on bone health has been an essential part of the process.
Thank you for this comprehensive explanation, which will be helpful to members with concerns about this issue.
Can this be the start of hypothyroidism?
Low TSH stopping me getting HRT
Just a Rant
Should I take adrenal support? - Hashimotos.
TSH of 70
