T3 absorption and calcium - any info?

[Schenks]

Hi, folks. i have recently read that taking calcium can block the action of T3 for 12 hours either side, which worried me a bit. Anyone any idea?

thanks.

[RedApple Administrator]

Can you point us at the source of this info or is it just 'hearsay'?

[nobodysdriving in reply to RedApple]

redapple, I still have to find an 'official' source which states this (see my reply below), so I do wonder too....

in some other forums people say that calcium reduce T3 absorption but I have NO idea where they get this info from, when I ask them they NEVER once have been able to give me an official source (ie science article/drug leaflet etc) SO FAR

[RedApple Administrator in reply to nobodysdriving]

The trouble with hearsay is that it is... well, just hearsay! We already have a conflict in this conversation... Schenks talks about the 'action' of T3, whereas you refer to 'absorption' of T3. Surely not the same things are they? Think this is how 'chinese whispers' works isn't it?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to RedApple]

Although Schenks does say 'absorption' in the subject line! I agree with your comment below... if no official documentation, assume all is ok. But personal experimentation will be your own answer in the long run.

[nobodysdriving]

there is no official answer on this one which is 'definite'

On the BNF there is NO interactions stated between T3 and calcium and also in the patient leaflet it does not state any either!

medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...

HOWEVER there are some people saying that there is interactons (as you mentioned), what they base this on I really DON'T KNOW. At the same time there is a lot of other people who say there is NO interaction.

I don't think you'll get a 100% answer on this one.

I tend to think that if the patient leaflet does not say so and neither does the BNF that then we are ok on this one.

If I had to take T3 in multiple doses AND I relied on calcium too then rather than to make my life misery I'd just ignore the statement that calcium reduces T3 absorption, but if I have plenty of time in my day to leave them divided without getting a 'headache' out of it then I will leave them divided.

In my case I don't take any calcium anymore, and I only take T3 once a day (at bedtime) so this problem is one I don't have to face

[sporty333]

Dr p in his literature suggests keep iron and calcium away from thyroid meds....:0)

[nobodysdriving in reply to sporty333]

Dr S 'doesn't care' and says you can take it when you want to or you can live your life obsessed by the clock and the times you swallow your pills hahahahaha

[sporty333 in reply to nobodysdriving]

....which is fine if you're feeling we'll!!!! Spare a thought for the long term sick! Lol

[Schenks]

redapple - I am amazed that you manage somehow to sneer in an internet discussion. Well done.You are evidently ignorant of the fact that on Levothyroxine leaflets it warns patients to advise doctors especially if they are taking calcium supplements with this medication. As for your sneer about Chinese whispers, obviously you do not understand the interchangeable nature of the usage of the terms absorption and action - the former induces the latter and either may be affected by calcium, as implied by the advice leaflet.

So, Nobody's driving - thank you for your rather more polite response and yes, this is the location for my concern regarding taking thyroxine medications with calcium. I understand that T3 has a somewhat different molecular structure to T4 and that their actions, after the translation of T4 to T3 and its subsequent absorption, do differ, but i wondered if anyone had further info.

i didn't bargain for sarcasm on this site, though. And i don't live my life by a clock either. Hahahahahaha..

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Schenks]

Schenks, I have only just had this comment pointed out to me by another member. I wish you had used the 'Reply to this' link to respond directly to me. That way I would have had an email to alert me that you had responded.

I'm sorry that you have taken offence at my words. It was meant only lightheartedly, and in no way sneering or sarcastic.

[Schenks]

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Schenks]

Just a pointer, if you want to reply to someone in particular, you have to make sure to click on 'reply to this' otherwise they will not get an email letting them know that you have responded.

Louise

x

[Schenks in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Louise. actually, since I felt publicly embarrassed by my post being derided in the forum I wanted my rebuttal to be similarly displayed. however, i am not clear if, in a string of posts like this, how to recognise which are from a reply by pm or which are open, since they are all displayed similarly. Maybe it's the indentation as a new paragraph each time as opposed to being directly in tandem.

Steph

[Hidden in reply to Schenks]

Hi Steph

All of the responses seen here are open. Only messages sent by the messaging system are private.

All I meant was that in order for me to get an email telling me you had responded you had to click on 'reply to this'.

Yes, as you have mentioned, you can see when someone replies as the posts move inwards getting steadily narrower!

Hope that all makes sense!

Louise

x

[Schenks in reply to Hidden]

Gotcha - and yes it does; thank you.

[Zephyrbear]

All bickering aside... are we any the wiser?

[Schenks]

I neither bicker nor use sarcasm to denigrate. The leaflet in the Levo warns against using T4 and calcium and after reading the leaflet I recall seeing that thyroxine and calcium supplementation should be separated for 12 hours. I wish I could remember where - I will try to find it.

[Hidden in reply to Schenks]

Please post it if you find it! Thanks.

Might be a good idea to start a new thread though. Would hate to think of something so helpful being missed.

Louise

x

[Hidden in reply to Schenks]

I started using t3 at the same time you wrote this post. 9 years ago when it was prescribedafter a Thyroidectomy by the hospital pharmacy with a leaflet which showed no need to steer clear of calcium - or food.

I felt great and lived to tell the tale.

I’ve just started taking T3 only again. No instructions to avoid calcium or food.

In the interim I’ve seen a few ‘instructions’ on this issue, but never, ever, a requirement to leave 12 hours.

There is simply too much diversity in instructions - or lack of them - to gain anything about what is right, what is wrong and what is unknown.

In regard to Schenks’ reply to RedApple , it has contributed nothing to the discussion other than impertinence. I am perplexed, too, about why the final sentence of her hahahahah reply should be so inconsistent with her expectation of good manners.

Why am I on a nine year old post? Looking for information about T3 in general. I haven’t found what I’m looking for but I have found that the admin on this forum are respectful and show forbearance beyond what is reasonable.

I’ve been on other forums and been castigated for far less.

Schenks

[Ocean2]

What about Vit C as calcium ascorbate, is this the same thing?

I take a Vitamin C which contains calcium ascorbates, magnesium ascorbates, zinc ascorbates and potassium ascorbates.