Thyroid patients who have difficult, by-the-book and medically-rigid doctors (like the vast majority of Endocrinologists, reported by too many patients) often ask if there is anything out there to support what patients ALREADY know by their experience. Slowly but surely, they are coming out.
This page will list professional research, articles, opinions and links which support what we already know…or are at least in the right direction. And you can use these to support your argument with your physician that certain thyroid treatments do NOT work, and there IS a better way to do all this.
***FOUND MORE RESEARCH ARTICLES THAT WOULD HELP THIS PAGE?? Use the Contact Me form to send the link to the article or comment. Remember: I’m only seeking research that can be used to help doctors understand better thyroid treatment as well as challenges their bad information.
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THAT THERE’S BETTER TREATMENT THAN SIMPLY SYNTHROID OR OTHER T4-ONLY MEDS:
At the 90th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, it was announced that T3 can be an effective substitute for T4. And…the target TSH was .5 - 1.5. http://www.endocrinetoday.com/view.aspx?rid=28931 June 2008
COMMENT: Even though being on desiccated thyroid, with its T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, is even better according to the experience of hundreds of thousands, this announcement is at least a good step in the right direction. Hopefully, they will take the final step!
THAT T4 combined with T3 GIVES BETTER RESULTS
As far back is 1999, the New Journal of Medicine reported superior results of a synthetic T4 and T3 combination treatment, especially on the brain and other tissues. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/340/6/424
COMMENT: Hello?? Hello?? Is any doctor listening?? Granted, this study was done on synthetics, but hey, it gets the point across!
Also this one: http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0013/ea0013P316.htm
HEART ISSUES FROM T4-ONLY TREATMENT
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has reported that long-term levothyroxine replacement therapy in young adults is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/7/2486 2008
COMMENT: Of course, thyroid patients have known this a longggg time as they watched their cholesterol and Triglycerides rise while on a lousy T4-medication, and some end up with heart problems. But this finally gives some research on a FACT.
THAT A SUPPRESSIVE TSH DOES NOT CAUSE BONE PROBLEMS:
This PubMed article from 2005 is about research which shows that even suppressive doses of T4 does not negatively affect bone mineral density. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16269872
And this one from 1993: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8252740
COMMENT: even though these studies used the ineffective T4-only medications, it’s evidence that suppressive doses are not the buggaboo for bone loss.
CELIAC DISEASE IS A STRONG PREDICTOR OF ALSO HAVING HYPOTHYROIDISM
From the Oct. 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism come this article which states people with celiac disease had a greater than fourfold increased risk of being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a threefold increased risk of suffering hyperthyroidism, and a 3.6-fold increased risk of developing thyroiditis. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081118/hl_nm/us_thyroid_celiac_1
MISCELLANEOUS RESEARCH TO SUPPORT BETTER TREATMENT
From Hot Thyroidology and the Journal owned by the European Thyroid Association, this is a 247 pages of research on topics such as Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Metabolism, Iodine, Autoimmunity, and much much more. http://www.hotthyroidology.com/downloads/eta_abstractbook_2007.pdf
COMMENT: I confess that I haven’t made my way through all of it, but if you do it, you may find some real gems in this!
THAT BIPOLAR CAN BE STRONGLY RELATED TO UNDIAGNOSED OR POOR THYROID TREATMENT
Dr. Peter Whybrow, a world-renowned expert on bipolar disorder, published his findings in the journal Molecular Psychiatry about the connection between thyroid and bi-polar. It’s discussed in the Saturday Evening Post. http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/issues/2005/0708/7370468.shtml
COMMENT: I’m always glad to see this connection mentioned, which is exciting for those struggling with bi-polar.
THAT MISCARRIAGES CAN BE RELATED TO HYPOTHYROID or POOR THYROID TREATMENT:
The following link takes you to a website with a study of pregnant women with “normal” TSH, but who are positive for antibodies, who have fewer miscarriages following thyroid treatment. Medscape requires a log-in, but it’s free, and it sends regular e-mails on the latest research according to your preferred topics. www.medscape.com/
COMMENT: Once again, this article proves that a so-called normal TSH means squat, and miscarriages can have a strong connection to your undiagnosed or undertreated hypo state.
THAT T3 IS NOT ONLY ANTI-CANCER IN YOUR LIVER, BUT CAN HELP YOUR LIVER TO REGENERATE:
From the American Association for Cancer Research, this research study shows that T3 can not only be anti-cancer, but actually help your liver to form new cells: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/3/603
COMMENT: This article shows that T3 REDUCES liver nodules, and you can wonder what T3 might do against cancer elsewhere in your body.
EARLY COMMENTS ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TSH
This was a short forum with comments by David Derry, Raymond Peat, and individuals:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/314/7088/1175#26029
Comments: you can see the blossoming of doubt about the TSH in these posts from 1999 to 2002.
