New Study: Addition of T3 Superior to Levothyroxine/T4-Only Thyroid Treatment for Hypothyroidism

[MorningGlow]

There is exciting news for thyroid patients: a study published in a highly respected and reputable endocrinology journal says that the combination of T4/T3 is superior to T4 only/levothyroxine treatment for hypothyroidism! Here are the details.

The groundbreaking study, reported on in the European Journal of Endocrinology, looked at the controversial issue of treatment with synthetic T3 as a supplement to T4-only (levothyroxine) therapy for hypothyroidism.

Some studies going back more than ten years have shown the superiority of the combination therapy. Other studies, however, found no difference. The inconsistency of these research findings on T3 has led some experts -- in particular, those who are biased in favor of levothyroxine-only therapy -- to conclude that there is no benefit to the addition of T3. (Some of those same "experts" even made a major logical leap, and erroneously concluded that levothyroxine/T4-only therapy is superior to T4/T3 combination therapy.)

In any case, in the new research, Danish researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized cross-over study -- which is considered the gold standard format for research -- of 59 patients. In the patient group, 50 micrograms of the usual T4 dose was replaced with either 20 mcg of T3 or 50 mcg of T4 for 12 weeks. The patients then did the "cross-over," doing the opposite for another 12 weeks. The T4 dose was regulated if needed to keep the TSH levels stable.

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2010/05/17/t3-superior-t4-levothyroxine-hypothyroidism-thyroid.htm

(Note: At the bottom of the article there's a link to the journal, but you have to purchase the full article there for $25.)

Editorial comment: Suck it, Synthroid! :P

[inna]

1. Thank you very much for posting this.

[Auggie]

2. Bookmarked.

And million thanks for posting.

:hi:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Thanks for posting this!

You do know that Abbott Labs, makers of Synthroid, got sued some years ago for falsifying their data saying Synthroid was better than Armour???

It's true.

They can pry my armour out of my cold, dead hands.

[Celebration]

4. Awesome

Thanks so much for posting.