I have an underactive thyroid and take 75mcg of Levothyroxine. I have just been diagnosed with high cholesterol and advised to take statins. Having read information on this I am a little apprehensive about taking them. Can anyone advise me if it's better to reduce cholesterol by diet or take statins and hope no side effects
High cholesterol and an underactive thyroid - Thyroid UK
High cholesterol and an underactive thyroid
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8 Replies
•
Hi Roz, welcome to the forum!
High cholesterol can often be a result of low FT3. Mine reduced once I was diagnosed Hashis and started Levothyroxine .
But can you share your blood tests? Ideally TSH, Free T4 and Free T3. If you have ferritin, folate, b12 and D results, share those as well.
• in reply toFallingInReverse
Thank you for your reply. My TSH is 0.85 TPO 1.2 positive and T3 3.7. I have been on 75mcg Levothyroxine for 4 years. Initially,20 yrs ago I was on 75, then 100 and now back to 75. The more I read about statins the less I want to have them.
My TSH is 0.85
TPO 1.2 positive
T3 3.7.
No Ft4 result?
What’s the range on Ft3 …..looks very low if range is most common range of 3.1-6.8
Low Ft3 will frequently result in low vitamin levels
We need GOOD vitamin levels for good conversion
Low vitamin levels results in poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 so Ft4 (Levo) is much higher than Ft3 (active hormone) resulting in lower TSH making it harder to get dose increase in levo
Essential to test and maintain GOOD vitamin levels
If vitamin levels are good and Ft3 remains low in comparison to Ft4, then like thousands of thyroid patients you may benefit from addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
TiggerMeAmbassador
Welcome aboard
It seems likely that you re under replaced on a dose of 75mcg unless you are petite? This is commonly the cause of raised cholesterol levels
Do you have any recent thyroid results you can share along with lab ranges?
SlowDragonAdministrator
welcome to the forum
How long have you been on only 75mcg Levo
Approx how much do you weigh in kilo,
75mcg is only one step up from standard STARTER dose Levo
Unless extremely petite you likely need next increase in Levo
High cholesterol is directly linked to being hypothyroid
nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
Suggest you request FULL thyroid and vitamin testing first BEFORE considering statins
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your 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)
NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high
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)
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older
For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels
What vitamin supplements are you taking
VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
What is reason for your hypothyroidism
Autoimmune?
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
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...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
If you are UK based GP's are being pushed to prescrbe statins to as many of us as possible and are given financial incentives, so my cynical brain thinks this is less about your welfare and more about their wallets. Statins are not recommended for hypos or female patients, so you are right to be wary.
As the othsrs have said you are likely on too low a dose of Levo and have low T3 levels. If you can get more Levo then its very likely your T3 wil, rise, lowering cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a classical sign of hypothyroidism. Thyroxine hormones are responsible for your metabolism and if you have not got enough hormones available, your metabolism is slowed down. The liver is responsible for processing cholesterol, however if it has not got enough T3 available, your lipid metabolism is impaired and as a result your cholesterol levels will rise. An increase in thyroid hormones, especially an increase in T3, will correct this. It is not a dietary problem, it is a metabolic problem and should be treated as such.
So statins are really just a 'patch' to lower your cholesterol, but the primary reason is your low thyroid hormones. And without seeing the reference range, your T3 looks very low, so this is where your problem originates from.
75 mcg is not that high a dose, the general guidance is 1.6mcg per kg of body weight. Some people are okay with less, some might need even more to feel well, but it is a guide, especially if GPs resist an increase in dose:
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