Thyroid
The thyroid is really a small gland that lies in the neck concerning the degree of the Adam’s apple and weighs around a single ounce. It produces thyroid hormone and calcitonin. The parathyroid glands are extremely small and lie around the outside portion in the thyroid gland and secrete parathyroid hormone. We are going to be focusing on thyroid hormone.
The thyroid gland is stimulated to make thyroid hormone by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which can be produced in the pituitary gland located in the brain. The pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus within the brain which monitors the amount of circulating thyroid hormone. Iodine must enter the thyroid gland via a transport program which is repaired with the intake of vitamin C. There is certainly usually about 20-30 mg of iodine inside the physique and 75 percent of it is stored inside the thyroid. Additionally to iodine, magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6 are required for thyroid hormone production.
The thyroid gland produces two thyroid hormones: T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Ninety-five % of thyroid hormone produced is T4 and 5 % is T3. T3 is the active type of thyroid hormone which is produced because of 1 iodine becoming cleaved from T4. T4 is inactive so the majority of thyroid hormone produced is actually inactive. The numbers “3” and “4” indicate the number of iodines. This can be important in understanding optimal thyroid function. Each T4 and T3 are bound to proteins inside the blood till they attain your cells and become unbound to function their magic on metabolism.
The majority of the T4 is converted into T3 inside the liver. Roughly sixty % of the T4 is converted into T3, twenty % is converted into an inactive form of thyroid hormone known as reverse T3 (irreversible), as well as the remaining twenty % is converted into T3S (T3 sulfate) and T3AC (triiodothyroacetic acid).
Reverse T3 may be problematic; even though it is inactive, it’s going to nevertheless bind to T3 receptors and block T3 from binding and operating its magic on metabolism. Also significantly or also small cortisol that is created by the adrenal glands will increase circulating levels of reverse T3. This mechanism is due to suppressed liver detoxification and clearance of reverse T3 from excess cortisol production. Stress can not only trigger signs of hypothyroidism but it may also impair the liver’s capability to detoxify. Cortisol may also suppress TSH production resulting in low thyroid function. Immune system activation, high adrenaline, excess free radicals, aging, fasting, anxiety, prolonged illness, and diabetes will also drive the inactivation of T3 to reverse T3.
T3 and reverse T3 also can be inactivated by conversion into a hormone identified as T2. Elevated insulin levels due to a diet high in refined carbohydrates will also boost reverse T3 levels. Toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead may also increase reverse T3 production. T3S and T3AC are inactive till they’re catalyzed by an enzyme inside the GI tract recognized as sulfatase. This enzyme is dependent on healthful gut bacteria. We’ll talk about inside a later chapter the significance of a healthful digestive tract as it relates to twenty percent of active thyroid hormone.
Thyroid hormone’s primary part would be to control metabolism (energy production) inside the cell. Our cells contain tiny factories referred to as mitochondria that generate energy from fat, sugar and protein. Thyroid hormone controls the function from the mitochondria which determines how much energy is made. Symptoms of low thyroid function are connected to a lower in power production which includes:
Fatigue
Weight gain/inability to drop weight
Constipation
Dry/itchy skin
Dry brittle hair and nails
Depression
Headaches
Overly sensitive to cold
Cold/numb hands and feet
Muscle cramps
Depressed immune system-can’t recover from infections
Slow wound healing
Unrefreshing sleep
Digestive issues as a result of low stomach acid
Hair falls out
Water retention
Lateral third of eyebrow thinning
TSH
Conventional medicine relies mainly on the TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone blood test to measure thyroid function. TSH just isn’t a thyroid hormone. TSH is created by the pituitary based on how much thyroid hormone is circulating inside the bloodstream. As thyroid hormone levels drop, TSH production will boost to stimulate the thyroid to produce much more hormone. If thyroid hormone increases, then TSH production will reduce because the thyroid is making lots of hormone. The TSH alone just isn’t sufficient to assess thyroid function since it does not take into consideration the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active type which occurs within the liver, kidneys and lungs. The TSH test also doesn’t take into account thyroid hormone receptor resistance. Thyroid hormone receptors can become resistant to thyroid hormone as a result of thyroid-disrupting chemical exposure top to normal blood tests but improvement of low thyroid symptoms. Cortisol produced throughout stress by the adrenal gland can also inhibit TSH production further throwing off the accuracy from the test. In the event the TSH is elevated, the traditional physician will prescribe synthetic T4 and this can generally decrease TSH in to the “normal” variety. This strategy does not take into account peripheral thyroid hormone conversion or receptor binding. In the event the body is compromised in its ability to activate thyroid hormone into T3, then taking T4 will result in a failure of remedy. When the adrenal glands are out of balance, then most likely thyroid hormone function will also be out of balance. Furthermore, if thyroid hormone receptors are desensitized, this strategy will fail too.
You are going to find that most medical physicians do not invest significantly time reading the peer-reviewed medical literature which provides us with useful information on TSH levels. An excellent study was published by Obal and Krueger (2001)on sleep deprivation and thyroid hormone production. The researchers concluded: “When sleep deprivation is maintained for weeks, the plasma concentrations of T4 and specifically T3 decline but TSH remains normal.”6 Do physicians ask you about your sleep patterns? Maybe this could be the purpose for the abnormal TSH. I’ve noticed numerous individuals who also suffer from insomnia and sleep difficulties and present with low thyroid symptoms and abnormal TSH levels. Does this imply they must have thyroid hormone dumped into their bodies? Unfortunately, this happens to many people. I usually take into account each patient’s sleep pattern and appropriate it as a part of our remedy program. Several occasions, sleep patterns are abnormal because of blood sugar and adrenal gland imbalances. Bear in mind, you might be not a lab test but a stunning, complicated getting exactly where everything is connected as a single.
Testing & Diagnosis
Blood tests alone cannot often adequately diagnose thyroid hormone imbalance. It’s estimated that about forty percent of the U.S. population suffers from some kind of thyroid imbalance as opposed to the current conventional figure of ten %. This is due to the inadequacies from the TSH test. Additionally to blood testing, I review a thorough case history and a quantity of detailed health questionnaires and also perform a comprehensive physical examination for clues to thyroid hormone imbalance. Basal physique temperature testing is used by numerous practitioners to evaluate thyroid function but this will not solely indicate a thyroid imbalance. There are several other factors that can result in a low basal physique temperature such as adrenal fatigue, leaky gut, impaired liver detoxification and malnutrition. I use the basal body temperature simply as 1 a lot more diagnostic tool to evaluate the overall picture of a patient. Another sign that may indicate low thyroid function is thinning of the lateral one-third of the eyebrow.
The following thyroid tests can provide much more information about your thyroid. Use this as a guide when you get the results of your blood tests:
TSH (Thyrotropin) – Thyroid-stimulating hormone is made by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to make hormone. The ideal range is 1.8-3.0. Traditional medicine uses a a lot broader variety of 0.5-5.5. This variety misses many hypothyroid sufferers such as those with a TSH between three.0-5.5.
Total Thyroxine (T4) – This test measures the amount of T4 (thyroxine) that’s both bound to protein and unbound.
Free Thyroxine Index – This can be calculated by multiplying the TT4 by the T3 uptake. The result gives you the quantity of unbound T4 or Totally free T4.
Totally free Thyroxine (Free T4) – This measures the amount of unbound or totally free T4 which is the most active kind. Free T4 isn’t affected by medications or other factors that affect protein bound thyroxine (TT4).
T3 Uptake – A measurement from the quantity of available binding sites for totally free T3 on thyroxine-binding proteins. Elevated testosterone will reduce the amount of binding sites and trigger a low T4 and high T3 uptake. Excess estrogen from hormone replacement or birth control pills will boost binding sites and can cause high T4 and low T3 uptake.
Free Triiodothyronine (Free T3) – This really is a measure of free of charge T3 levels or unbound T3. This really is the best test if your natural doctor wants to see the quantity of available active thyroid hormone within the bloodstream.
Reverse T3 (rT3) – This really is a measurement in the amount of T3 that has been inactivated.
Thyroid Antibodies – Thyroid peroxidase, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin and antithyroglobulin elevations indicate autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto terapia‘s or Graves’ disease. Thyroglobulin and calcitonin are mostly used inside the diagnosis of more serious thyroid diseases such as cancer.
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications do not take into account underlying physiological imbalances and may lead to dependence on the medication. The following drugs are prescribed by physicians to treat the thyroid:
Synthroid – Synthetic thyroxine (T4). Synthroid will be the most popular prescription drug for hypothyroidism. Synthroid is inside the top 5 most commonly prescribed drugs within the US. Synthroid can be converted incorrectly into inactive reverse T3 resulting in no symptom improvement. Synthroid depletes calcium for bones and may not provide improvement for patients who have compromised conversion pathways of T4 into T3 or any in the other imbalances described in this book.
Levoxyl – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Levothroid – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Levothyroxine – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Thyrolar – Synthetic T4 and T3.
Cytomel – Synthetic T3. Several side effects which includes hyperthyroid symptoms.
Armour Thyroid, Nature Thyroid, Westhroid – Natural thyroid hormone from desiccated pig thyroid tissue. Contains approximately 38 micrograms/grain of T4 and 9 micrograms of T3/grain also as other cofactors for thyroid hormone production. Nature Thyroid is really a better choice than Armour since it does not contain corn and other binders.
Many alternative-minded healthcare doctors prescribe Armour and other natural desiccated pig thyroid tissue. This is a better option in some cases than merely prescribing synthetic T4 (Synthroid) since these natural agents also contain T3. The problem with Armour is that it contains corn and other fillers which can be a problem for those with specific sensitivities. Nature Thyroid will be the best choice since it does not contain corn or fillers. But the author will not agree with this remedy method simply because despite the fact that it really is a better option, it nonetheless will not take into account the underlying causes of why the thyroid is out of balance within the first place. These natural prescriptions nevertheless only replace thyroid hormone and require dependence on the doctor for continued prescriptions and office visits. I’ve observed several, several sufferers who are on such natural prescriptions who nonetheless have several symptoms and have been taking the prescription for a long period of time. Even if someone responds to a prescription such as Armour thyroid, she must be rigorously evaluated for underlying physiological imbalances.
Another issue with such treatment methods is suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid feedback mechanisms. Whenever you take a hormone which is created within the body, this tells the brain that it no longer needs to stimulate hormone production because it is constantly becoming ingested. When male bodybuilders take testosterone, their testicles shrink since there is certainly no longer a need for them to make testosterone. Taking thyroid hormone for long periods of time will suppress natural production which may or may not return after discontinuing the medication. It is strongly encouraged that you do every thing possible to normalize thyroid function before going on medication of any kind. Americans typically want a quick fix, a magic pill that will instantly give relief. A lot of people get this instant relief from medication but the long-term effects of dependency and suppression of natural hormone production may not be worth it. Patients who have had their thyroid removed or partially removed may require prescription thyroid hormone. When the gland just isn’t present then thyroid hormone need to be replaced. In this case, prescriptions such as Armour and Nature Thyroid are the better choice.
Conversion of T4 into T3
T3 is much more active than T4 and is responsible for the majority of the actions of thyroid hormone around the cell. Some individuals cannot convert T4 into T3 as efficiently as others. In addition, there are numerous factors that could be inhibiting this process.
Selenium, antioxidants, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and B12 deficiencies can lead to poor conversion. The medications listed above affect thyroid hormone conversion also as production and receptor binding. As folks get older, they shed their ability to convert thyroid hormone which may be as a result of decreased vitamin and mineral absorption. This really is due to a loss of intestinal barrier function exactly where all of your nutrition is absorbed. This barrier loses its function as we age so supplementation is absolutely necessary. Excess estrogen from xenoestrogens in the environment, birth handle pills and hormone replacement can lead to low thyroid symptoms. Estrogen increases the protein that binds to thyroid hormone leaving excess thyroid hormone bound to protein which is inactive till it becomes unbound. Cortisol produced by the adrenal gland is a major factor in converting thyroid hormone. Too a lot cortisol can inhibit the activation of thyroid hormone and too little cortisol yields the same result. Exhausted adrenals will result in low thyroid symptoms because of the lack of cortisol production. Insulin is actually a hormone released by the pancreas to handle blood sugar elevations after consumption of carbohydrates and can inhibit hormone conversion as well. Soy products have been shown to inhibit the conversion of thyroid hormone. This only goes for soy products that are non-fermented. Fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh are okay.
Vitamin C has been shown to enhance the conversion of thyroid hormone. Radiation, chemotherapy, growth hormone deficiency, and cigarette smoke have also been shown to reduce thyroid hormone conversion.