Many patients have tried synthetic thyroid hormones, such as levothyroxine and liothyronine, and have found that Natural Thyroid is the only form that works adequately for them, reporting that they simply do not feel as well when they take levothyroxine alone or with liothyronine.
Thyroid hormone helps convert the food we eat into the body into energy and heat. This regulates body temperature and can impact many other systems within the body. There are two major forms of thyroid hormones.
T4 (Thyroxine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine)
T4 is the inactive form that is produced by the thyroid gland and converted into T3. Whereas, T3 is the active form.
Hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid gland, located at the front of your neck, does not produce enough thyroid hormone (underactive thyroid). There are several types of hypothyroidism. The most common is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. The disease affects both sexes and all ages, but is most common in women over age 60. Because the thyroid gland helps regulate your metabolism, low thyroid levels cause your body to slow down, affecting everything from appetite to body temperature. Symptoms can appear over time and can be hard to diagnose. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause serious health complications.
People who have hypothyroidism may be at increased risk for other chronic conditions including heart disease, arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, and cognitive impairment.
Your thyroid gland produces two main thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. In addition, the pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which helps control how much T3 and T4 the thyroid makes. Your health care provider will draw blood to measure TSH levels. When thyroid hormones are low, your body produces more TSH to increase production of thyroid hormones. Your doctor may also test your levels of T3 or T4.
Natural medicine practitioners may pay particular attention to levels of T3 hormone. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Your thyroid gland makes some T3, but the body also converts T4 into T3. If you are unable to convert T4 to T3, your laboratory tests for T4 may be normal, but you still may have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Talk to your doctor about including T3 laboratory tests in your treatment.
Bensenor IM, Olmos RD, Lotufo PA. Hypothyroidism in the elderly: diagnosis and management. Clin Interv Aging. 2012; 7:97-111.
Bromfield S, Keenan J, Jolly P, McGwin G. A suggested association between hypothyroidism and age-related macular degeneration. Curr Eye Res. 2012;37(6):549-52.
Busnelli A, Somigliana E, Benaglia L, Sarais V, Ragni G, Fedele L. Thyroid axis dysregulation during in vitro fertilization in hypothyroid-treated patients. Thyroid. 2014;24(11):1650-5.
Carayanniotis G. Recognition of thyroglobulin by T cells: the role of iodine. Thyroid. 2007;17(10):963-73.
Conrad SC, Chiu H, Silverman BL. Soy formula complicates management of congenital hypothyroidism. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Nov;89(11):1077.
Deyneli O, Akpinar IN, Mericliler OS, Gozu H, Yildiz ME, Akalin NS. Effects of levothyroxine treatment on insulin sensitivity, endothelial function and risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypothyroid women. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2014;75(4):220-6.
Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2014. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013.
T4 (Thyroxine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine)
T4 is the inactive form that is produced by the thyroid gland and converted into T3. Whereas, T3 is the active form.
Hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid gland, located at the front of your neck, does not produce enough thyroid hormone (underactive thyroid). There are several types of hypothyroidism. The most common is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. The disease affects both sexes and all ages, but is most common in women over age 60. Because the thyroid gland helps regulate your metabolism, low thyroid levels cause your body to slow down, affecting everything from appetite to body temperature. Symptoms can appear over time and can be hard to diagnose. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause serious health complications.
People who have hypothyroidism may be at increased risk for other chronic conditions including heart disease, arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, and cognitive impairment.
Your thyroid gland produces two main thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. In addition, the pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which helps control how much T3 and T4 the thyroid makes. Your health care provider will draw blood to measure TSH levels. When thyroid hormones are low, your body produces more TSH to increase production of thyroid hormones. Your doctor may also test your levels of T3 or T4.
Natural medicine practitioners may pay particular attention to levels of T3 hormone. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Your thyroid gland makes some T3, but the body also converts T4 into T3. If you are unable to convert T4 to T3, your laboratory tests for T4 may be normal, but you still may have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Talk to your doctor about including T3 laboratory tests in your treatment.
Bensenor IM, Olmos RD, Lotufo PA. Hypothyroidism in the elderly: diagnosis and management. Clin Interv Aging. 2012; 7:97-111.
Bromfield S, Keenan J, Jolly P, McGwin G. A suggested association between hypothyroidism and age-related macular degeneration. Curr Eye Res. 2012;37(6):549-52.
Busnelli A, Somigliana E, Benaglia L, Sarais V, Ragni G, Fedele L. Thyroid axis dysregulation during in vitro fertilization in hypothyroid-treated patients. Thyroid. 2014;24(11):1650-5.
Carayanniotis G. Recognition of thyroglobulin by T cells: the role of iodine. Thyroid. 2007;17(10):963-73.
Conrad SC, Chiu H, Silverman BL. Soy formula complicates management of congenital hypothyroidism. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Nov;89(11):1077.
Deyneli O, Akpinar IN, Mericliler OS, Gozu H, Yildiz ME, Akalin NS. Effects of levothyroxine treatment on insulin sensitivity, endothelial function and risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypothyroid women. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2014;75(4):220-6.
Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2014. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013.