I found this fascinating…and I think you will, too.
I got an email from Peter Guagliano, the owner of the website thyroid-s.com. And he directed me his latest post titled “Natural Desiccated Thyroid and Synthetic are NOT the same”.
But this wasn’t the basic information that we all know i.e. comparing a single synthetic hormone to all five natural desiccated thyroid, which makes the latter wonderful.
Instead, it was about a bio-analytical chemist who decided to test synthetic T3 (Cynomel and Cynoplus) as well as the Thailand-made Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) called Thyroid-S, by extracting each tablet with methanol, then diluting and injecting them on an LC/MS system–a sensitive instrument used to detect and identify compounds and molecules in a substance.
And what he discovered and reported is that the thyroid hormones of NDT are tightly bound with thyroglobulin, a large iodine-containing protein….whereas synthetics are bound by nothing. i.e. synthetic hormones are exposed; NDT hormones are protected (until they are released by your digestion). The diagram on this blog post gives you a powerful visual of this reality, but specifically in comparing natural desiccated thyroid with synthetic T4-only. You will see the large mass of thyroglobulin on the left, each containing either T4, T3, T2, T1 or calcitonin within. Then the tiny synthetic hormone on the right, alone.
But is that bad NOT be bound by thyroglobulin?? Possibly yes in the opinion of Peter. As Peter explained: “The [exposed] synthetics might be affected by stomach acids in different ways in different people. Low acid, high acid, various digestive and pancreatic enzymes in varying amounts, bacteria/flora in the stomach and small intestine, all kinds of possibilities here which would vary by the person.” And, he says, that can mean instability!
Peter continues: “Perhaps the thyroglobulin in NDT (and completely missing in the synthetics) is absorbed, or necessary, or utilized, or forms other products during digestion that could affect blood levels of various substances, numerous carrier proteins for example, thereby affecting the results obtained.” And he concludes: “The NDT hormones are bound to thyroglobulin and not available for reaction or breakdown until after they first digested (from Janie: which saliva begins, by the way, even in your mouth). This would be a more stable compound.” His original post is here.
A side note about thyroglobulin and iodine: The protein Thyroglobulin takes up a lot of space in your thyroid with the purpose of taking ahold of iodine and storing it to produce thyroid hormones. That purpose alone tells you how important it is to have healthy levels of the nutrient iodine. And each molecule of thyroglobulin has just over 100 sites where the iodine can take ahold along with the assistance of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and hydrogen peroxide. When you are iodine deficient, it’s been noted that your thyroglobulin will increase, which is why you can see a bulge in front of your neck–also called a goiter. (Even taking too much iodine supplementation can cause this increase, which can block thyroid hormone production).
**To read about the process of making porcine-derived NDT via thyroglobulin, go here.
**To know more details about Natural Desiccated Thyroid–its history, the breakdown of the hormones, and how patients dose it, see Chapter 3 in the revised STTM book, here.
**To read how T4-only is only a reverse mirror image of the real thing, read my blog post from May 10, 2012.
Whether these findings are completely correct or not, patients simply know from ten years of experience that NDT has been giving them far better results than T4-only…and even those on T3-only who moved to NDT reported they liked the results even more. It’s all important patient-to-patient information.
9 Responses to “New chemical analysis showing important difference between NDT and T4-only!”
Philip
“…And what he discovered and reported is that the thyroid hormones of NDT are tightly bound with thyroglobulin, a large iodine-containing protein….whereas synthetics are bound by nothing. i.e. synthetic hormones are exposed; NDT hormones are protected (until they are released by your digestion”
Digestion is mentioned in the excerpt.How does this affect those who are using NTH/NDT sublingually and are bypassing the digestive system?
(From Janie: there are enzymes in your saliva breaking the thyroglobulin down, as well)
Anna
I was wondering the same thing that Philip mentioned. Are the enzyme in your saliva already braking up the thyroglobuling…or what’s happening?
(From Janie: already explained under his post. Saliva is part of digestion, and it’s already breaking it down in the mouth.)
Heidi
I want to take NTH so badly! My children are also hypo. But we’ve tried and it is like we are taking nothing – we’ve tried Armour and NP in equivalent doses to our Levoxyl (and in doses up to 5 grains). All that happens is that we completely lose all ground we’ve gained. Could it be that we can’t digest the thyroglobulin?
(From Janie: Those equivalency charts suck. Get your adrenals testing via saliva and iron levels tested via blood).
Heidi
We had our saliva adrenals tested – two of us were fine and the other needed cortisol (the 11 year old). We had iron tested and 2 of us are on supplementation. The other looked great (according to your numbers, not the doctor
). I’m on very low levels of Levoxyl – 37.5ug/day. I’ve been on 3 grains of the NTH with no effects what so ever. That’s why I’m wondering if we just couldn’t digest the thyroglobulin….
(From Janie: many many patients will tell you it’s a big mistake to be back on Levoxyl. NDT works. T4-only has caused too many problems. You just have to do more investigation. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others)
Lynne Tuck
Playing devils advocate here – but, if you have Thyroglobulin antibodies (Tgab), then wouldn’t taking the NDT where the T4, T3 etc are bound to thyroglobulin, initiate an immune response/attack to the thyroglobulin
Think I Have read somewhere (and can’t remember which doc said it) that this may be why synthetics can be better for people with hashimotos.
(From Janie: Possibly. But there are MANY Hashi’s folks who do wonderfully on NDT and wouldn’t go with synthetics in a split second.)
Armour Rules
Heidi:Did you try CHEWING UP the Armour? Ever since it was reformulated in 2009 with cellulose, it is unfortunately now necessary to CHEW it into very fine powder so your body can break down the cellulose, to get to the thyroglobulin. It doesn’t taste great, but it’s not bad. Kinda like a musty old dog biscuit. Other alternatives are, you could try Thyroid S from Sripasit Pharma in Thailand (you can get it over the net without a scrip).
Chew those, or the other Thai brand, Thiroyd (from Greater Pharma) as well. I’m getting great results in so doing, with all three. I agree with Janie…BAG the Levoxyl!
Anna O'Connell
For what I have been reading, it sounds correct. I think the people taking Synthetic T3 who actually need it must know that it doesn’t work. So sad what our medicine market has become. They put in so many chemicals that are bad for you. You can see it by all these law suits for damage to people from pharmaceuticals. All they care about is how much money they make. These are harmful chemicals they are feeding people of our country. Such a sad thing our country is solely run on money and not what the “people” need. It should be about us, the people, not money. They make money no matter what they sell or make. Keep it healthy!
Karen A. toth
Pklease I beg of anyone to get forest chemical to change back their fillers to the original. I went from Synthroid after first being dignosed–should I put it begged to have thyroid checked due to family history and every symptom known then and now. Synthroid -no help- searched to find a Dr that would try alternative—-I finally got my life back!! Thea decline started into roid rage-forgetfulness,weight gain, a fear to be even near or with friends,…back to the search—AHA—-new formula causing havoc!!! I have tried chewing -everything excepted a needle in my veins. Naturethroid same thing as changed Armour. All i want is my LIFE back—-please tell Armour to go back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monica
Question to Armour Rules:
Interesting post.
Have you had to raise your Armour dose since the reformulation???
I have read that the human body cannot really break down or digest cellulose. I guess this means we are not chewing the pills up to break down the celluose, but simply to allow the body access to the thyroid hormones within?