What’s wrong with my thyroid?

By Dr. Michael Ruscio

Why do so many people have symptoms of low thyroid function (aka hypothyroidism), yet their lab test are normal. You know something is wrong but your doctor says its all in your head. A study published in Alternative Medicine Review sheds some light on this subject.

Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):306-33.

The summary of this study reports there are a few, fairly common factors, that derange thyroid function but do so in such a way that will not be detectable on standard lab tests which test two markers called TSH and T4. Here are the highlights:

· First we have to understand the concept of activation of thyroid hormone

o Activation of thyroid hormone is when T4 is converted into T3. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone.

o T3 is almost never tested by standard testing. This is important because even if you have normal T4 you can have abnormal T3. Further, if you have perfect T4 but abnormal T3, you will have symptoms of hypothyroidism.

§ Symptoms of hypothyroidism:

Fatigue High cholesterol

Weight gain Cold hands & feet

Depression Dry coarse skin & hai

Forgetfulness Always cold

· Inflammation decreased thyroid function

o A direct relationship was found between inflammation and decreased thyroid function. In fact, when healthy subjects were injected with inflammatory compounds (specifically IL-6) they developed symptoms of hypothyroidism.

o Don’t think inflammation is a big deal….30.7% of population (that’s 1 of 3 people) has abnormally high inflammatory marker according to a 2006 study.

§ Brain Behav Immun. 2006 Sep;20(5):498-504. Epub 2005 Dec 216330181.

· Toxic metals decrease thyroid hormone activation

o It is well know that people toxic with metals like lead or mercury have hypothyroid symptoms. In fact in another study it was shown that a key thyroid enzyme can decreased in function by 90% after exposure to toxic metals.

§ Heavy metal toxicity is also more common than you would think, people with silver fillings may be at risk for mercury exposure

§ Check out this video to see how silver fillings leech mercury http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA&feature=related

· Increased levels of liver toxicity (hepatic lipid peroxidation) cause hypothyroid symptoms

o As the toxic burden on the liver increased, less of the active form of thyroid hormone (T3) was made (less thyroid hormone was activated)

· Soy may be causing your hypothyroid symptoms

o Healthy subjects who consumed a high soy diet for 3 months developed symptoms of hypothyroidism, after returning to a normal diet their symptoms returned to normal

o Evan as little as 128mg of soy per day caused hypothyroid symptoms in one study performed on a group of women

· High levels of stress hormones also caused symptoms of hypothyroidism. This further reinforces what we have all noticed for decades, when some people are under high amount of stress they tend gain weight.

· Low calorie diets decreased thyroid function

o In men who reduced calories a meager 15% below needed intake showed an unfavorable shift in thyroid hormone levels.

§ How does this work? It’s a prehistoric survival mechanism. When food was scarce (or if you eat like food is scare) the body will slow down its metabolic rate to keep you alive. The slower your metabolism, the less fat you burn.

· A low very carbohydrate diet (less than 200g per day) maintained for too long can decrease thyroid function. This of this as dietary stress.

· This study also showed even if you eat a normal amount of calories but exercise to be in calorie deficit you decrease levels of active thyroid hormone (free T3 and increase reverse T3)

· Sleep deprivation caused a low metabolic state or hypothyroid symptoms.

What can you do?

· Control inflammation

· Rid your body of toxins and limit toxic exposure

· Avoid soy in the diet

· Don’t cut calories and keep your carbohydrates low but now too low, I recommend not exceeding 100 grams per day.

· Manage stress

· Selenium, Ashwaghanda, vitamin E, and gugulu

Visit our website www.IntegrativeHC.com for more information