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The Root Cause of Low Thyroid Symptoms

A Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism

Symptoms of hypothyroid (low thyroid) may include:

Production of thyroid hormone does not normally decline until after the age of 50. Therefore, the cause for sub-optimal levothyroxine (T4) levels before the age of 50 should be determined and addressed. Reasons for “premature” low T4 levels include:

  • Low substrates for T4 – The main substrates for T4 production are iodine and tyrosine. Iodine deficiency is a common problem and should be assessed and treated in all patients with low T4 production. In addition, excess of the halogens bromide, fluoride, and chloride can displace iodine and lead to a functional iodine deficiency. Tyrosine deficiency is less common, but there can be competition for absorption of amino acids, and low tyrosine has been noted in vegans and body builders.
    • Order Dried Urine Iodine Test (Cost: $80)
    • Order Dried Urine Elements Profile (Cost $129)
      • Tests Iodine, Bromide, Lithium, Selenium, Arsenic, Mercury, and Cadmium
    • Order Thyrotain (Cost $41.50/#120 capsules)
      • Contains L-tyrosine and iodine, which make up the backbone of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
      • The addition of zinc, selenium, vitamin A and the botanical guggulipid activate enzymes that enhance the conversion of T4 into active thyroid hormone T3.
      • Vitamin A and zinc also help improve cellular sensitivity to thyroid hormones.
      • Turmeric (The Complete Turmeric Matrix), along with vitamin C, vitamin E, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), provide a powerful combination of antioxidants that boost thyroid health by reducing free radical stress.
  • Stress induced “sluggish” thyroid/Pituitary hypofunction – Acute or chronic stress raises Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) and cortisol, both of which suppress Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and lower production of thyroid hormones. In this case of low thyroid hormone production, the thyroid gland can produce adequate hormone, but is not receiving the signal to do so. Recovery does not always occur after a stressor has been eliminated, and thyroid production may remain sub-optimal. If you have had a major stressor in the previous 6-18 months, sluggish thyroid caused by high cortisol should be considered; even if cortisol values have returned to normal. Use of thyroid and pituitary glandular preparations may reestablish the ability of the thyroid gland to produce optimal amounts.
    • Order Salivary Diurnal Cortisol Test (Cost $135)
    • Order Thytrophin PMG (Cost $22.50/#90, $73/#360)
      • A thyroid glandular preparation designed to support healthy thyroid function.
    • Order Pituitrophin PMG (Cost $35/#90)
      • A pituitary glandular preparation designed to support healthy pituitary function.
    • Order Thyrotain (Cost $41.50/#120 capsules)
      • Contains L-tyrosine and iodine, which make up the backbone of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
      • The addition of zinc, selenium, vitamin A and the botanical guggulipid activate enzymes that enhance the conversion of T4 into active thyroid hormone T3.
      • Vitamin A and zinc also help improve cellular sensitivity to thyroid hormones.
      • Turmeric (The Complete Turmeric Matrix), along with vitamin C, vitamin E, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), provide a powerful combination of antioxidants that boost thyroid health by reducing free radical stress.
  • Thyroid gland destruction – Sources of gland destruction include autoimmune thyroid reactions (i.e., the presence of Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) and heavy metal toxicities (i.e., arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead).
    • Order Capillary Blood Spot Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPOab) Test (Cost $65)
    • Order Dried Urine + Capillary Blood Spot Comprehensive Elements Profile Test (Cost $229)
      • Tests iodine, bromide, lithium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc, magnesium, copper.

 

Our bodies are incredibly complex and intricately designed. Therefore, deciphering what is causing your symptoms of low thyroid may not be straight forward. Experiencing the symptoms of low thyroid may not always indicate that you have low levels of thyroid hormone. Instead, the symptoms of low thyroid may be caused by Functional Hypothyroidism. Functional hypothyroidism is a term used to describe the condition in which T4 levels are optimal, but symptoms of low thyroid are present.

Reasons for Functional Hypothyroidism include

  • Excess binding – The excess binding of thyroid hormone may be caused by increased levels of Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) can be the result of administration of oral estrogens (including oral contraceptives), estrogen in excess of normal physiologic levels, pregnancy, administration of [too much] oral thyroid replacement, and chronic sleep disturbances.
  • Poor conversion of free T4 to free [active] T3 – Receptors specific to T4 have never been identified and T4 should be viewed as a pro-hormone which is converted to the active T3 in peripheral tissue. In addition, to be able to be converted to active T3, T4 can also be converted to reverse T3. Reverse T3 effectively blocks the action of active T3 at the receptor level. Therefore, an excess of reverse T3 can block the metabolic effects of T3 even when T3 levels are optimal. T4 is metabolized to T3 by the enzyme 5’deiodinase. Factors that can inhibit this enzyme include:
    • Nutritional deficiencies (i.e., selenium, zinc, chromium, iodine, vitamins A, B2, B6, B12 and E, iron, copper).
      • Order Dried Urine + Capillary Blood Spot Comprehensive Elements Profile Test (Cost $229)
        • Tests iodine, bromide, lithium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc, magnesium, copper.
    • Medications (i.e., glucocorticoids, beta blockers, SSRIs, opiates, phenytoin, theophylline, lithium, antibiotics, chemotherapy)
    • Low progesterone
      • Order Saliva Profile I Test (Cost $170)
        • Tests estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS and cortisol
    • Lifestyle and Environmental Issues (i.e., stress, aging, alcohol, obesity, cigarette smoking, chronic inflammation or infection, kidney disease and liver disease, starvation, mercury and lead, growth hormone deficiency, hemochromatosis, pesticides, radiation, excessive soy, cruciferous vegetables, or alpha-Lipoic Acid.
      • Order Saliva Adrenal Stress Profile Test (Cost $170)
        • Tests DHEAS and 4-point cortisol.
      • Order Capillary Blood Spot Test for Inflammation (Cost $60)
        • Tests high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP).
      • Order Capillary Blood Spot Test for Elements (Cost $129)
        • Tests Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Selenium, Zinc, Magnesium, and Copper.
      • Order Capillary Blood Spot Test for Growth Hormone Deficiency (Cost $70)
        • Tests Insulin-Like Growth Factor.
      • Order NutriGen Test (Cost $350)
        • Analyzes 363 genetic variations for personalizing diet, wellness, and weight loss.

Our bodies are incredibly complex, and symptoms of low thyroid function can persist even when all thyroid levels are optimal, indicating good production, normal binding, AND proper metabolism! Functional Hypometabolism or Thyroid Hormone Resistance refers to cases in which balancing the hormone levels at optimal levels does not produce the expected effects on metabolism.

The Importance of PROPER Thyroid Hormone testing

It takes several months for changes in estrogen and/or thyroid hormone doses to reach full effect on [increasing] Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG). Therefore, retesting of thyroid levels should not be done within at least 90 days (about 3 months) following a dose change in estrogen or thyroid.

Whenever testing a T3 level, you should be at complete rest for at least 15 minutes prior to obtaining the blood sample. This is because T4 is converted to T3 on an as needed basis. Therefore, any increase in metabolic demands (i.e., fighting traffic, trying to find a parking spot, racing into the doctor’s office/lab) will result in an increase in T3.

If you are taking medication, the time of the last dose should be timed properly in correlation with the blood sampling to best represent the levels produced by the medication (avoiding peaks and troughs).

  • If you are taking T4 alone (i.e., Synthroid®, levothyroxine):
    • Testing sample should be obtained 4-16 hours after the last dose. (T4 peaks in 2-4 hours and lasts 18-20 hours in a Euthyroid patient.)
  • If you are taking Immediate Release (IR) T3 only (i.e., Cytomel®):
    • Testing sample should be obtained 2-4 hours after the last dose. (T3 peaks in 1-2 hours and declines toward baseline 4-6 hours after dose.)
  • If you are taking a combination of Immediate Release (IR) T4 and T3 (i.e., Armour Thyroid, desiccated thyroid, Thyroid USP):
    • Testing sample should be obtained 4 hours after last dose.
  • If you are taking compounded Slowed Release (SR) T4 and/or T3:
    • Testing sample should be obtained 4-8 hours after last dose. (Compounded Slowed Release capsules peak in 1-2 hours and tail off after 10 hours.)

Order your at home thyroid test TODAY!

  • Comprehensive Thyroid Profile ($319) 
    • Tests: T4, Thyroglobulin, TSH, fT3, fT4, TPOab, Iodine, Bromine, Selenium, Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium 
  • Elite Thyroid Profile ($299) 
    • Tests: T4, fT4, fT3, TSH, TPOab, Thyroglobulin 
  • Essential Thyroid Profile ($175) 
    • Tests: TSH, fT3, fT4, TPOab
*All testing through MD Custom Rx is accompanied with an interpretation and recommendation by Pharmacist and Hormone Expert, Dr. Monica Zatarski, PharmD, RPh.

Watch our YouTube presentation to Learn more about optimizing thyroid function

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