HEALTHY LIFESTYLE KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION 
MONTHLY HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Month: January 2019
Topic : 1. Why Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is
not the reliable test for Thyroid disease?
2.
What other vitamins and minerals are absolutely necessary for the thyroid to
work efficiently?
”Knowledge gives you the power to choose
wisely and take control of your health”
Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland situated under
your Adam’s apple in the neck. Its duty is to control your metabolism, blood
pressure, maintain body temperature, weight, produce certain proteins and blood
circulation.
Thyroiditis
: It is the inflammation of the thyroid
gland due to iodine deficiency.(Goiter)
Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which our immune cells attack the
thyroid gland (Thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and thyroglobulin (Tg) producing
antibodies (TPOAb, TgAb ).This is also called Hypothyroidism, meaning under
production of the thyroid hormone T4 and T3.Symptoms include slower metabolism,
weight gain, cold hands and feet, puffy eyes, hair loss on outer eyebrows, high
cholesterol, depression etc.
Grave’s
Disease is also autoimmune thyroid disease in which immune cells attack the
Thyroid stimulating hormone receptors and produce antibodies ( TRAb) and
results in over production of thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Hence its name
Hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include bulging eyes, weight loss, sensitivity to
heat, high pulse rate etc.
Most
of the cases thyroid disease is caused by autoimmunity and it is related to
leaky gut due to consumption of wheat, cow milk, bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
Autoimmunity is regulated by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and they are controlled
by Vitamin D3 and vitamin C.
Pituitary
gland (brain) instructs thyroid to produce T4 and T3 by sending Thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH) when it senses the low T3 levels in it. It means more
the T3 it has less TSH is produced and less the T3 it has more TSH is produced.
Here lies the discrepancy because it has different set of Deiodinases (Enzymes
that convert inactive T4 to active T3. Whole body except pituitary gland has
Deiodinase type D1 that converts T4 to T3 but pituitary gland has little D1 but
sufficient D2 which is 1000 times more effective than D1 in converting T4 to
T3.
Pituitary
gland can make enough T3 from a little
T4 with the help of D2 , when all other
body tissues are crying for T3 hormone. Even under physiologic conditions like
depression, dieting, weight gain, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, autoimmune,
chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome etc D1 is down regulated in the body and
D2 in the pituitary is up regulated producing more T3. Hence Pituitary gland
having itself sufficient T3 doesn’t instruct the thyroid gland by increasing
production of TSH .
Pituitary
gland doesn’t have another deiodinase D3 that converts T4 into reverse T3 (RT3)
which acts directly opposite to T3. Whole body has D3 and under physiologic
conditions listed above it converts most of the T4 into T3 putting brakes to
the production of active T3 and slowing the metabolism. This proves that TSH
test can’t be relied on.
As
for as TSH reference range is concerned its upper limit is set too high at 4.0
( reduced from 5.0 to 4.5 then to 4.0) In some countries it is set at 3.0 but
in Canada it is 4.0. Optimum upper limit is 1.5-2.0.
Tests
: TSH, free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPOAb, TgAb, TG for Hypothyroidism and
TRAb for hyperthyroidism.
Unfortunately
doctors don’t test RT3 cause if found high they have no medicine to prescribe
to lower it. Zinc and selenium can lower high Rt3. Similarly they don’t test
free T3 because if low they have no medicine that can raise T3 levels. They
prescribe only Synthroid which has T4 only.
They
don’t test autoantibodies because if found positive , have no medicine to
eliminate it.
Vitamin
D and A can lower auto antibodies along with selenium.
Best
way to treat hypothyroidism is to supplement with NDT natural dessicated
thyroid hormone called Throid.
Or
if synthroid doesn’t work then Cytomel (T3) should be taken.
Nutrients
needed: Tyrosine
amino acid, iodine, iron, vitamin C, A, D, B2, B12, zinc, selenium, magnesium,
omega 3 fatty acids.
To
produce TSH Protein, magnesium, B12, zinc are absolutely required.
To
produce T4 hormone Vitamin B2, Iodine and vitamin C are needed.
To
convert T4 into active T3 zinc and selenium are important. If deficient in
these minerals T4 is converted into reverse T3 which is detrimental to body
organs.
T3
only works when it attaches to the surface of the nucleus of the cell and this
function is mediated by vitamin A and D.
In
total 12 different nutrients are required in optimum amounts to complete the
whole cascade of production, activation and transportation of thyroid hormone
to cellular level or the nucleus DNA and switching on genes.
Yours
healthfully,
Sukhwinder
Brar (President)
Healthy
Lifestyle Knowledge Foundation
