Thyroid function and training and life

[induced_drag]

I am looking for those that might have experience with issues.

First:YES, I have talked about all these things with my Dr, AND searched the internet..... I am just looking for peoples personal experiences, especially people that train, on how it impacted their lives.

I have known for sometime that I have thyroid issues (hypo). I have held off treatment since I was hoping other treatment I was recieving would help improve the situation. It seemed to help initially, but is just as bad as it was again.

After another year and new physical, my Dr ran a full thyroid screening on me again (even checking for Hashimotos). I dont have Hashimotos, but I do have some significant issues he felt. My numbers are all at the extreme highs or lows of the scales. My TSH is above. Since many of these hormones function either with each other or against each other, he feels this definitely is an issue. My ratio of T3 Free to RT3 came back 11. He said in a properly functioning person it should be 20 or greater.

My question is the symptoms of low thyroid are so subjective, fatigue...etc. It seems hard to tell if it really is causing issues. Fatigue is the reason I sought treatment following my head injury and I still struggle with it although not nearly as bad.

I am asking for anyone with experience treating hypo if it has made a difference in their life. I am not excited about having to take more meds.....but I do know there are health risks over time in not treating it.




Please stick within forum rules and do not mention specific medications or doses

[cmoore]

I worked ENT service a long time. Have cut countless thyroids out in the OR. What I can tell you, is find a really good Doc. Work with him/her on your meds and DONT deviate from the Rx, ever. Work with the Dr to find your appropriate dose over time (can take a while).

Short of that, there's anecdotal stuff out there about medium and short chain fatty acids positive effects on thyroid function.

GL

[induced_drag]

I worked ENT service a long time. Have cut countless thyroids out in the OR. What I can tell you, is find a really good Doc. Work with him/her on your meds and DONT deviate from the Rx, ever. Work with the Dr to find your appropriate dose over time (can take a while).

Short of that, there's anecdotal stuff out there about medium and short chain fatty acids positive effects on thyroid function.

GL

Thanks Cmoore

I feel pretty good about my Dr. I looked at what he was suggesting for initial course of treatment and from what I can gather on the net, it is what many recommend (rather then some of the most common methods). He also talked about it taking time to find the right treatment.

I have known I have issues (as if I have only one ). I just have been ignoring it. When you take your temp and it is always almost a full degree low, it is hard to ignore there is something not 100%.

Mostly, I know that over time, this can have negative impacts on health so that is what is prompting me to seek help. My hopes that other treatments would help, seemed to work in the short term....but did not pan out.

I did not know that about med and short fatty acids. I have been using coconut oil religiously now for about a year. I have come to love it in much of my foods. I will have to do some more research in that area.

Thanks...Your insight is appreciated.

[monty83]

I had an over active thyroid when I was in my teens like 14-16 was tired lots and skinny Took meds to try to fix it didn't do anything. After that my dr sent me to take a radioactive iodine "drink" and that killed it. Now I'm on a pill supposed to take one every day. Anyother questions I might be able to help.

[mtdman]

What treatments are you most worried about? I take thyroid replacement pills to keep my levels in line. It's just a small pill I take every day. When I finally got my tsh levels in line it really helped with my weight loss. It's not a burden, I just have to take a pill every day and make sure I don't eat certain foods that interact with the pill. Pretty simple.

[induced_drag]

....

....

Hey guys....forum rules specifically prohibit discussion of prescription meds. Hence my BOLDED statement at the end of my post. Please edit your posts and remove reference to specific meds.


MT.... I dont have issues with weight loss. (or I dont think I do). Of course I do have stubborn fat....but I dont think Hypo makes fat loss that much harder. I just eat at a level where I need to in order to lose weight. I am sure my metabolic rate is suppressed a little (low body temp), but that means you eat less. Overall fat loss is still an energy equation at the end of the day. Have you ever tried that?

[monty83]

Fix for ya.

[Phattso]

I believe I am hypo, as well. I do not take meds for it, yet. I have read that one of the symptoms of being hypo can be higher cholesterol. Although, not for all people with hypo. One thing I have been doing for the past several months is adding OTC phytosterols and a probiotic every day, and my cholesterol is down to a combined 188. Was something like 210.

I do not know if this would help fatigue at all, but that has been my experience.

[iEatBeef]

induced, I am taking a prescription to boost my T3 level. My T3 is consistently at the low end of the scale.

My symptoms were:

-Constant fatigue. I was coming home from work and going to sleep at 6 PM. I have two kids under 5 and was not enjoying that part of my life, was a real bummer.
-Weight loss was a massive struggle. I know you said this was less an issue for you. Just pointing it out for my scenario.
-Zero libido. Another bummer, for obvious reasons.

At the same time my lowish thyroid was uncovered I was also diagnosed with low T (T was < 175).

I have been on TRT and thyroid booster for about a year. Quality of life is significantly improved and all symptoms mentioned above are gone.

It has been quite a journey to get the TRT and thyroid dialed in. I have an excellent Dr that has been there at every step to help keep me on the rails. The end result was well worth the process to get here.

PM me if you want more detail.

[meltedbarrel]

I have hyopthyroidism as well. Went to doc due to fatigue, sluggishness, low libido, etc. roughly three years ago. Thought test was low (still think that but docs around here say replacement will kill me). Put me on meds and have been better, but honestly at the same time i started training so that has helped me feel better as well. A good website is http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ . Helped me learn a lot and I am trying to find a new doc as all he will test for is TSH levels, and there is a lot more to it than that.

[Karl_Hungus]

I have had Hashimotos for ~15 years, and my thyroid now is almost nonfunctional. Even on very high dose replacement, my TSH level was 20+.

TBH, I don't notice much difference in how I feel when my TSH numbers are normal. Fatigue is always an issue, and dropping fat isn't any easier. The biggest benefit I notice is cholesterol numbers. Once I got my thyroid medication properly adjusted, my cholesterol numbers immediately dropped 50 points.

[FltDoc06]

In my "day job" I am a laboratory specialist (pathologist). Laboratory diagnosis of hypothyroidism us usually pretty straight forward, and the treatment of hypothyroidism is very benign. Once your doc gets your medications stabilized, you don't usually have to adjust dosages much over time. Hypothyroidism definitely can contribute to fat gain or retention and will definitely make it difficult to drop those fat pounds. Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolism generally, so with low levels you will also tend to store fat more readily. Treatment involves taking an oral form of the hormone and basically replacing what the body would normally produce on its own. Most hypothyroid patients feel better once they are adequately treated with thyroid hormone; many don't realize that they weren't feeling 100% until after they get treated. There are no effective ways to stimulate thyroid hormone production with nutritional supplements (that don't include thyroid hormone).

[induced_drag]

Thanks for sharing your guys experiences. As most already know, I have been getting treatment for low-t for just over a year. We knew of my low functioning thyroid at the time, but my Dr, did not want to tackle both at once. (too many variables). It makes sense that I am having issues with both since they are both pituitary stimulated. Best guess is my head trauma screwed up something there. Guess that does not bode well for my growth hormone either....but doc said getting that treated is VERY restricted and not a path he would go. I am not going to a longevity clinic either....

Fatigue, (and I mean terrible fatigue) is why I sought treatment in the first place when we discovered the low-t. It got A LOT better with TRT, but my wife says I am still not really back to my old self. (pre accident) Besides being motivated to workout, I am not really a get up and go person much anymore. I used to run 3 businesses and get more stuff done in a day then most people do in a week. I have since chosen a much simpler life, so I cant tell if my more laid back nature is chosen, or more a product of feeling different.

My Cholesterol is very good. Surprising good this year considering I have been the loosest I have ever been when it comes to IIFYM.

total 122
HDL 33 (low end of scale but my ratio is 3.7 which is considered ideal range)
Triglycerides 52 (supposed to be lower then 150)

I was really surprised I was that good. Like I said, I have been eating VERY loose and ZERO cardio (which I really should be doing some)
I take 4g fish oil/day and have been using coconut oil as a staple fat for about a year. I also eat a good amount of fiber.


Fatigue is my biggest battle. From what I can see there are not really any downsides to treatment. I have talked to several other who said it made the world of difference for them. As I approached 40, I started taking my health more serious. I feel pretty good that my Dr is giving me good advice, I just wanted to see what others have experienced.

My hope is not some miraculous fat loss or anything like that. Heck, I know with enough diet fat is not an issue. It has been 5 years now since my accident and I am just trying to get back to 'normal'. My whole journey back into fitness has been a result of this and I think I have done about as much as I can on my own. Just as I was with TRT, I am willing to concede that there are somethings wrong with me that no amount of hard work or lifestyle will change. As much as I hate the idea of being reliant on some treatment, it just may be the route I take in the long run.

[Karl_Hungus]

From what I can see there are not really any downsides to treatment.

There isn't .... It just involves taking a tiny pill every day on an empty stomach (or in my case, a couple of pills since my dose is so high). It can only help ... it certainly can't hurt.

[iEatBeef]

The other thing to look into is possible iodine deficiency. Thyroid needs iodine to function. Some practitioners believe that iodine deficiency is more common than most realize, and sometimes overlooked as a first possibility when thyroid levels are less than optimal. If you spend time searching around the web you will likely come across Dr. Browstein as a name that is tied to the subject of iodine deficiency and treatment.

If you're hesitant to jump onto thyroid meds then this might be a place to start. There's stickies over on T-Nation that also address this topic.

I'd also expect any good Dr should know about the relationship of iodine and the thyroid gland.

Good luck.

[mtdman]

Hey guys....forum rules specifically prohibit discussion of prescription meds. Hence my BOLDED statement at the end of my post. Please edit your posts and remove reference to specific meds.


MT.... I dont have issues with weight loss. (or I dont think I do). Of course I do have stubborn fat....but I dont think Hypo makes fat loss that much harder. I just eat at a level where I need to in order to lose weight. I am sure my metabolic rate is suppressed a little (low body temp), but that means you eat less. Overall fat loss is still an energy equation at the end of the day. Have you ever tried that?

The bolded part is not true. Low thyroid levels will kill your metabolism and does affect weight gain and loss. Not in all people, but in many people with hypothyroidism. If your body isn't working correctly, it's not just a simple equation.

I don't have a problem with fatigue from my hypothyroidism. I don't think it affects me in that way. I don't have a lot of the common symptoms, and my doctor has never been able to come up with a cause of my hypo. I don't have a cancer or tumor or that hashimoto's disease. Just a non functioning thyroid. Before I started taking my 'thyroid replacement medicine' my tsh was above 30. I have it down to .30 now.

Sorry I offended your prescription medicine sensibilities.

[drudixon]

Makes me wonder. I have a gumball sized nodule. Levels the one time I had them checked were normal. Had it biopsied once, but that was three years ago. HRT helps energy but not like I hoped. No issues with weight however.

[induced_drag]

The bolded part is not true. Low thyroid levels will kill your metabolism and does affect weight gain and loss. Not in all people, but in many people with hypothyroidism. If your body isn't working correctly, it's not just a simple equation.

I don't have a problem with fatigue from my hypothyroidism. I don't think it affects me in that way. I don't have a lot of the common symptoms, and my doctor has never been able to come up with a cause of my hypo. I don't have a cancer or tumor or that hashimoto's disease. Just a non functioning thyroid. Before I started taking my 'thyroid replacement medicine' my tsh was above 30. I have it down to .30 now.

Sorry I offended your prescription medicine sensibilities.

I do understand the Hypo can make weight loss " harder" by lowering the overall metabolism. Obviously if your overall body temp runs low you are burning less fuel. When I first went on TRT, it initially helped a bunch with my thyroid. For a while my numbers came back pretty good. I also was tracking enough to realize it boosted my TDEE by 200 cals per day! That is pretty significant. Over time though....it went back to where it is now.

My point was that I 'cut' just fine before being 'hypo'. It is just my cals were lower then they would have been otherwise. Your thyroid cant cheat the equation. If you eat less then burn, you will lose weight. It by all means can worsen nutrient partitioning, but in a deficit, that does not matter....you not in a mode where your body will be storing fat anyway.

I hate to say this....but I think people like to make excuses of why they cant lose weight. If you plan and track close enough and set the right goals every day and hit them....it is IMPOSSIBLE that you will not lose weight. You cant simply create energy from nowhere.....it will come from fat stores. Does it make it harder....sure. But what is 'harder'? If you are setting your macro goals and hitting them, it is just a matter of will at that point. Dieting SUCKS for everyone. It is hard. Stop blaming your thyroid and educate yourself on meal planing and lose weight if you want to. I think you will be surprised how well it works.

[DocHoss]

I hate to say this....but I think people like to make excuses of why they cant lose weight. If you plan and track close enough and set the right goals every day and hit them....it is IMPOSSIBLE that you will not lose weight. You cant simply create energy from nowhere.....it will come from fat stores. Does it make it harder....sure. But what is 'harder'? If you are setting your macro goals and hitting them, it is just a matter of will at that point. Dieting SUCKS for everyone. It is hard. Stop blaming your thyroid and educate yourself on meal planing and lose weight if you want to. I think you will be surprised how well it works.

^^^^emphasis added^^^^

It's just a matter of thermodynamics. if you expend more calories than you absorb (which likely will be fewer than you ingest), then you must lose weight. Weight loss does not inevitably mean fat loss however; the body will happily cannibalize muscle in order to preserve fat. As far as I know, no cut results in pure fat loss. But losing weight is a piece of cake.

Um, so to speak

[Karl_Hungus]

I hate to say this....but I think people like to make excuses of why they cant lose weight. If you plan and track close enough and set the right goals every day and hit them....it is IMPOSSIBLE that you will not lose weight. You cant simply create energy from nowhere.....it will come from fat stores. Does it make it harder....sure. But what is 'harder'? If you are setting your macro goals and hitting them, it is just a matter of will at that point. Dieting SUCKS for everyone. It is hard. Stop blaming your thyroid and educate yourself on meal planing and lose weight if you want to. I think you will be surprised how well it works.

I see what you are saying, but disagree somewhat. It really depends on how severe your hypothyroidism is. While true, the basic equation remains the same .... You also have to consider that in severe cases, the person feels like absolute dogsh!t. Zero energy, hair falling out, feeling cold all the time, etc. etc. ... and, if you are already in this state, cutting calories below your already meager maintenance is going to make you feel even worse. And, you certainly aren't going to be up for hitting the gym. So, it is a multitude of factors that go along with the condition that makes it difficult (not solely a drop in metabolism).

My symptoms were never as severe as that, but I know a few people who were in that bad of shape...and I certainly wouldn't expect them to be cutting in that condition. Luckily, there is no reason to do so. Hypothyroidism is easily treatable....

[DuracellBunny]

I have a family member that had most of their thyroid removed, so I know some stuff off the top of my head for you to discuss with the doc.

Diet - certain foods effect thyroid function. You may be able to increase it by eating certain foods or you may find that you are suppressing it by eating too much of other foods. The problem with how black and white BB diets can be, is that your low function could potentially be self inflicted by diet.

Iron and calcium - there is a relation between these and thyroxine. I don't know the exact relationship off the top of my head, but I know they influence each other. Iron obviously ties in to energy levels and the last thing you want as a lifter is to have the thyroid influencing bone density on the calcium side.

TRT - I don't know if you are getting it from an endocronologist or not, but I would speak to one. If nothing else, the TRT will influence any thyroid meds.

[induced_drag]

I found this article very interesting. I have not had a chance to fact check too much, but it does a real nice job of laying out thyroid function and training along with diet.

A lot to read, but good info directly related to bodybuilding and training.

Would love to see what some of you think. Also gives credence to what guys like Lyle McDonald preach about taking breaks to reset thyroid on restrictive diets...etc. Never knew that thyroid was so productive to muscle growth via protein synthesis as well. Mostly you just hear of the catabolic nature of T3 but I think that is probably from those that abuse it at levels beyond normal.

http://anthonycolpo.com/is-a-low-car...-your-thyroid/

Before I discuss the clinical research on carbohydrate intake and thyroid hormone levels, allow me to get a little ‘unscientific’ and report some anecdotal findings noted by myself and others. Rest assured, I’ll tie these observations in with plenty of published research when I’m done.

In 1998, I moved to Melbourne from Adelaide. Not long after this, in 2000, I began a low-carb diet. What followed was a predictable annual cycle, where winter would roll around and I’d freeze my ass off, despite wearing so many layers of clothing I could’ve doubled for the Michelin Man. My hands and nose were often ice cold, and at night I’d throw not one but two heavy quilt covers over my bed to stay warm. To keep my noggin from freezing I acquired enough beanies to fill a backyard pool, and I kept swearing I’d move to Queensland in due course so I wouldn’t have to put up with “this winter crap!” any longer.

Well, I never did move to Queensland, but something did change dramatically around 3 years ago.

In late 2008, I had successfully reduced my serum ferritin (a reliable marker for bodily iron levels) to the average levels of a teenager. Doing so has been shown to cause significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in both diabetic and non-diabetic folks. In my case, the improvements were more than “significant” – after years of having to follow a low-carb diet due to poor carbohydrate tolerance, the results were nothing short of remarkable. Large servings of carbohydrates no longer caused the brain fog and lethargy they once did. I began eating more and more carbs, until my diet was essentially a high-carbohydrate diet.

This development could not have come at a better time, as I’d just bought a single speed bike that I used, not for commuting, posing or pub-crawling, but for hill climbing. I instantly became hooked (trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve ridden up the steep side of Waverly Road on a 46/16-geared bike…3 times in quick succession lol). Eschewing gears and relying on good old brute force to get up steep hills dramatically increased the intensity of my rides. As such, my muscles needed all the glycogen they could get their hands on and a high-carbohydrate diet became, not an option, but a necessity.



“Look Ma, no gears!” If the east and west sides of your belly are in a frantic race to get as far away from each other as possible, then start racing up hills on one of these. Problem solved.

The improvements were striking. More carbs meant quicker glycogen replenishment, which meant more frequent and intense rides, which meant improved fitness and cadence, which meant continually improving times. Eventually, my ride times would improve to the point where I was doing faster climbs on a heavy-assed steel-framed single speed (purchased for $400) than what I once did on my feather-light, uber-expensive carbon fiber road bike! That folks, is a bloody big difference.

But that wasn’t the only marked change that occurred. When winter again reared its inhospitable head the following year, I hardly noticed. I didn’t need to dress as heavily, I didn’t need as much covering on my bed, my hands didn’t feel cold all the time, and I wasn’t continually fantasizing about relocating to Queensland. Don’t get me wrong, as a certified and lifelong sun-worshipper, I still think winter sucks immensely, but nowadays it isn’t anywhere near as unbearable as it used to be.

So what happened?

Carbs, Meet Thyroid. Thyroid, Meet Carbs.


Levels of the important thyroid hormone T3 are higher on carb-rich diets.

My thyroid status was finally getting some love, in the form of carbohydrates, and giving me back plenty in the form of improved cold tolerance. An active body doesn’t like carbohydrate restriction. While the body views calorie restriction as a stressful response, it gets doubly concerned when carbohydrate availability drops.

As Danforth et al wrote, “…the caloric content as well as the composition of the diet, specifically, the carbohydrate content, can be important factors in regulating the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones.”[Danforth 1979]

Before we delve into the science, let me also report the results experienced by some very large men whose livelihoods depend on being able to achieve insanely low body fat levels.

Those of you who follow competitive bodybuilding will no doubt be aware that Jay Cutler and Branch Warren scored first and second place in the 2009 Mr. Olympia, considered the Superbowl of bodybuilding. And those of you who’ve seen the pictures of these guys will know that their condition was mind-blowing: deep cuts, full muscles, and a healthy glow rather than the all-too-common dehydrated and drawn-out appearance. Cutler’s transformation was especially impressive. After having lost his title and being criticized for problematic symmetry and muscle imbalances, he did what no dethroned Olympia winner has ever done before – he came back better than ever and blew away the competition to reclaim his title.

Warren, meanwhile, did what few thought a relative newcomer to the Olympia could do and pulled off a surprise second with his excellent combination of cuts, size and symmetry.

[induced_drag]

continued

Branch Warren

In fact, the entire contest was characterized by a higher than usual standard of physiques. The contestants seemed to be doing something different.

Was there a stunning new training regime taking the pro-bodybuilding world by storm? Nope.

Had renegade scientists working in clandestine underground labs formulated some super-powerful new steroid? Nope.

The difference appears to have been carbs. Lots of them.

George Farah, the nutrition consultant who guided Branch to his impressive second place in the Olympia, was perplexed at the widespread use of low-carbohydrate diets in bodybuilding. Many bodybuilders and strength athletes had embraced these diets as eagerly as the general population, but needless to say, the nutritional needs of individuals performing intense daily training differ greatly to someone who spends their day staring at a computer in a seated position.

Farah reported he often had clients on very low-carbohydrate diets coming to see him, exhibiting low morning temperatures of 96ºF that quickly rose when he increased their carbohydrate intake. Farah, not surprisingly, is not a fan of low-carbohydrate diets. He had Warren consume as much as 1,000 grams of carb per day in his preparation for the Olympia[Gwartney].

Harry Rambod, the consultant who helped Cutler reclaim his Olympia title in stunning fashion, also shunned the use of low-carb eating and instructed his trainee to eat 750 grams of carbohydrate per day[Gwartney]. The rest is history – on the front cover of its January 2010 issue, popular bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development exclaimed “CARBS ARE BACK!” The prodigal son of bodybuilding nutrition had returned, and with a vengeance.

Of course, in professional athletics, they’d never gone anywhere in the first place. Intakes of up to 900 grams of carbohydrate per day, for example, are par for the course in professional road cyclists during the Tour de France[Saris WHM]. During the 2010 Tour Down Under the Adelaide Hilton, which serves as the base camp for riders and team staff, dished up 3,800 kilograms of pasta, noodles and rice, 3,000 bananas, 10,000 x 300 ml bottles of juice, along with 1,400 kilograms of chicken, fish, beef and pork, and 6,000 eggs[The Advertiser].

While bodybuilding is a somewhat subjective endeavour, professional sports are unmercifully objective. You either cross the line ahead of your competitor, or you don’t. And that’s why low-carbohydrate diets never caught on in the world of athletics; it’s all well and good for armchair Internet gurus to wank on about low-carb diets and “fat adaptation”, but when you’re a pro athlete with thousands and often millions of dollars in prize money and endorsements on the line, you simply can’t afford to have your glycogen-depleted butt being kicked around like a soccer ball by your competitors.

There will be a certain segment of people reading what I’ve just written, the kind that loses bowel control and screams “steroids!!” upon seeing anyone with a neck circumference bigger than a broomstick, that will poo-poo any mention of bodybuilders. Before doing so, they should remember this: bodybuilders tend to be ‘early adopters’ of nutrition trends and the strategies they embrace routinely go on to be widely used by the general population (examples include whey protein, omega-3 fat supplementation, low-GI foods, meal replacement shakes, multiple daily meals). The popularity of low-carb diets has been waning ever since 2004 and the news that those at the highest levels of bodybuilding are abandoning low-carb nutrition does not bode well for the future of this paradigm.

Thyroid Hormone 101

Before we delve into the science, a quick explanation of the key thyroid hormones is in order. The big daddy of thyroid hormones is triiodothyronine, also known as T3. It affects almost every physiological process in the body, including growth and development, metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate. Production of T3 and its prohormone thyroxine (T4) is activated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is released from the pituitary gland. T3 is around four times more potent than T4. Around twenty percent of thyroid hormone produced is T3, whereas 80% is T4.

Reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) is derived from thyroxine (T4). Unlike T3, rT3 does not stimulate thyroid hormone receptors. Instead, rT3 binds to these receptors and blocks the action of T3.

The Research and What it Shows

In the early 1970s, researchers from the University of Vermont published the results of the landmark Vermont experimental obesity studies, in which young men were deliberately overfed for seven months. That these men gained weight, ending up an average of twenty-five percent above their ideal bodyweight, was hardly an earth-shattering finding. What was surprising was that the men required fifty percent more calories to maintain this new heavier weight than they did at their usual lean weights. The researchers later discovered that short-term overfeeding was associated with increased thermogenesis (energy expenditure). Speculating that changes in thyroid function could be responsible, they proceeded to examine the effect of altering calorie and carbohydrate intake on thyroid hormone levels.

The first of these experiments involved closely supervised volunteer inmates from Vermont State Prison. During the overfeeding experiment, one group consumed a hypercaloric mixed (high-carb) diet for 7 months, while another group ate a hypercaloric high-fat diet for 3 months from primarily fat.

Again, that both groups gained weight should come as no surprise. However, the group overfed the mixed diet required more calories (2,625 kcal/m2 per day) to maintain their new heavier weights than did the group overfed fat (1,840 kcal/m2 per day). Baseline differences in metabolism between the two groups were ruled out, as there was no difference in total calories required to maintain initial lean weights.

Before and after the mixed diet overfeeding phase, the volunteers spent four weeks consuming maintenance level high-carbohydrate or low-carbohydrate diets. Thyroid hormone levels were measured at the end of each maintenance period, and after the overeating phase. For an average adult, the amount of carbohydrate consumed during the high- and low-carbohydrate weight-maintenance phases would translate to around 600 and 200 grams daily, respectively.

During maintenance eating, levels of T3 (triiodothyronine) were higher on the high-carb diet. When subjects on the low-carb diet began eating the higher-carb mixed weight gain diet, their T3 levels rose. T3 levels among those who went from the high-carb maintenance diet to the mixed diet remained unchanged. In contrast to T3, serum concentrations of T4 were unchanged by overeating or changes in dietary composition.

In the men overfed fat for 3 months, there was no change in mean T3 levels before and after the diet.

Vermont, Round 2

The second series of experiments involved 17 subjects housed at the General Clinical Research Center of the University of Vermont. These subjects consumed a variety of diets, varying in caloric and macronutrient content, for periods of 1-6 weeks each. Seven moderately overweight subjects even fasted for 7 days, consuming nothing except for water and electrolytes.

During 3-week overfeeding periods, the subjects gained a mean 4.1 kg. Serum concentrations of T3 increased whether the volunteers were overfed with carbs (25% increase), protein (17%), or fat (29%). However, serum concentrations of rT3 decreased when carbs (15%) or protein (23%) were overfed, but no overall change in rT3 concentrations occurred when fat was overfed (meaning the high fat diet still resulted in less T3 actually stimulating their cells than the high-carb or high-protein diets). T4 concentrations did not change after overfeeding.

The differences were much more pronounced when the results for eucaloric and hypocaloric diets were tabulated. When fat was substituted for carbohydrate in a weight maintaining diet for seven days, serum concentrations of T3 fell from 172 to 116 ng/dl, and then returned toward their initial concentrations when carbohydrate was restored to the diet. Serum concentrations of rT3 responded in the opposite direction to those of T3, rising with the low-carbohydrate intakes and falling again on the high carbohydrate diets. T4 levels were unaffected by the changes in diet composition.

In the subjects that fasted for seven days, T3 levels plummeted from a mean 155 to 87 ng/dl, and then rose to 146 with refeeding on a mixed diet. Initial rT3 concentrations were 25 ng/dl, rose with fasting to 57 ng/dl, and then fell again to 24 ng/dl with refeeding.

Another group followed a “protein-supplemented modified fast” for six weeks, eating a low-calorie zero-carb diet consisting of nothing but lean meat, fish, fowl, and vitamin and mineral supplements. During this rather unappetizing diet, T3 concentrations fell steadily and at six weeks were equivalent to those found after 7 days of fasting (88 ng/dl)!

The Vermont findings indicate that during short-term experiments, eucaloric and hypocaloric low-carb diets decrease levels of the all-important thyroid hormone T3. Over longer time frames, this finding may also extend to hypercaloric diets that result in significant weight gain.

Because concentrations of T4 were unaltered in most of the experiments, it appears that higher caloric and carbohydrate intakes increase T3 levels by accelerating the conversion of T4 to the more active T3, rather than directly stimulating secretion of T3 from the thyroid gland [Danforth 1979].

What Have Other Researchers Found?

[induced_drag]

continued

The Vermont studies were hardly the only ones to find a negative impact of low-carbohydrate intakes on thyroid hormones. Over the years, an abundance of research has gathered to indicate that, for those who wish to maintain optimal thyroid function, very low-carbohydrate diets aren’t a wise idea.

Spaulding et al found that 800-calorie diets containing no carbohydrate (20 percent protein, 80 percent fat) mimicked the fall in T3 found during starvation. Total fasting resulted in a fifty-three percent reduction in serum T3, while the 2-week zero-carbohydrate diets exhibited a similar 47 percent decline in serum T3. In contrast, the same subjects receiving isocaloric diets containing at least fifty grams of carbohydrate showed no significant changes in T3 levels. The decline in serum T3 during the no-carbohydrate diet correlated significantly with blood glucose and ketones, but there was no correlation with insulin or glucagons[Spaulding SW]. As with the Vermont findings, these results would indicate that zero-carbohydrate dieting is an especially stupid endeavour.

In a study by UCLA researchers, six normal weight subjects followed 5 different diets for 5 days each. Three of the diets provided 2100 calories and 104, 202 and 409 grams of carbohydrate daily. Compared to the high-carbohydrate diet, the low carbohydrate diet caused a significant drop in T3 levels. The mean T3 results were 69, 86, and 91 ng/dl on the low-, medium-, and high-carbohydrate diets, respectively. The remaining two diets were hypercaloric, providing 4100 calories daily and 206 and 407 grams of carbohydrate daily. On both diets, the mean T3 level on both the 206- and 407-gram diets was 108 ng/dl. In this study, increasing carbohydrate intake over a range of 104-409 grams daily at eucaloric levels resulted in greater T3 levels, while on the high-calorie diet T3 concentrations were similarly increased with carbohydrate intakes of 206 and 407 grams per day[Davidson MB].

Dr. Fereidoun Azizi took forty-five obese subjects and studied them after 4 days of fasting and then after re-feeding with 800-calorie diets of varying composition. A minority of the subjects were taking T3 or T4, something we’ll discuss more in a minute.

Not surprisingly, T3 levels declined significantly during fasting, the decrease being greater in men than women. Re-feeding with protein or fat failed to restore the low serum T3, but re-feeding with a mixed diet resulted in a progressive rise of serum T3 to pre-fasting values (from 112 ng with fasting to 150 ng after 4 days of re-feeding). The carbohydrate-only diet caused similar increases in T3 (from 104 ng to 150 ng). Serum T4 levels rose after fasting and did not decrease after protein re-feeding, but did return to baseline values after 4 days of re-feeding with mixed dieting.

In an additional experiment, four subjects were again fasted and then re-fed with only 25 grams of carbohydrate daily for 4 days. This small amount of carbohydrate was able to raise fasting levels of T3 from a mean 110 ng to 136 ng. The changes in serum thyroid hormones were not related to the degree of weight loss or initial body weight.

What about the subjects taking thyroid hormones during the experiment? Among subjects administered oral T3, serum T3 levels did not decline during the fast. In the folks taking oral T4, however, levels of T3 still fell markedly during fasting, confirming that impaired conversion from T4 explains much of the decline in T3 levels seen with fasting and severe carbohydrate restriction[Azizi].

French researchers Serog et al examined four isocaloric (mean intake 2800 calories/day) diets lasting 1 week each. In two of these, a standard diet containing 45 percent carbohydrate was consumed. The remaining two diets were either low- or high-carbohydrate, and were consumed by all the subjects in random order between the two standard diet phases.

Average carbohydrate intake in grams was 250 grams on the standard diet, 71 grams on the low-carbohydrate diet, and 533 grams on the high-carbohydrate diet. On the standard and high-carbohydrate diets, T3 levels did not change, ranging from 163.3 to 169.5 ng. They declined on the low-carb diet to a mean 148.6 ng. Mirroring these changes, rT3 rose significantly only on the low-carb diet, while T4 did not change on any of the diets[Serog P].

Fery et al studied the effects of a 4-day isocaloric dietary replacement of carbohydrate by fat in six healthy subjects. The experimental ketogenic diet was preceded and followed by a 3-day period on a mixed diet. During the ketogenic phase, a significant fall in T3 and concomitant rise in rT3 levels was observed, while T4 levels remained unchanged. These changes were accompanied by a significant increases in glucagon and serum ketone levels, and a marked drop in blood glucose and insulin levels. Changes in levels of gluconeogenic amino acids and the branched chain amino acids reflected those seen during the catabolic environment of total fasting[Fery].

Ruth Mathieson and her colleagues from Virginia Polytech and State University placed fourteen obese free-living women on 530-calorie/day diets containing either 44 grams or 94 grams daily of carbohydrate. After four weeks, the group consuming the lower carbohydrate ketogenic diet lost an average of 8.0 kilograms, while the non-ketogenic group lost 6.7 kilograms, which the researchers attributed to greater water loss. There were no differences in RMR, but the ketogenic diet caused a significantly greater decline in T3[Mathieson RA].

Hendler and Bonde admitted seventeen obese but otherwise healthy subjects to the Yale Adult General Clinical Research Center, where they spent one month under close medical supervision. During this time, they spent 3-5 days on a weight maintenance diet then followed one of two extremely-low-calorie diets for 21 days. In this study, both protein intake was also dramatically manipulated. One diet contained 95% protein, 3% fat, and 2% carbohydrate, the other 41% protein, 4% fat, and 55% carbohydrate. Both diets provided 440 calories per day. Total weight lost by the low- and high-protein subjects after three weeks was 8.88 kg and 8.74 kg, respectively. Estimated lean mass loss was slightly lower in the high-protein group but did not reach statistical significance. Both diets caused similar drops in metabolic rate and fasting insulin levels. The high protein group experienced slightly greater decreases in the thyroid hormones T3 and free T3, although in this study the differences were not statistically significant[Hendler].

Dr. Kenneth Burman and colleagues from the Walter Reed Army and National Naval Medical Centers studied obese subjects during consecutive periods of differing diets. These included a mixed diet (40% carbohydrate, 40% fat, 20% protein, mean 1440 calories) for four days, followed by a fast of 7 days, then 5 days of glucose ingestion only (one group consumed 50 grams of glucose daily, the other 100 grams).

In the group given fifty grams of glucose, the mean serum T3 concentration dropped from 137 ng/dl on day 1 to 117 ng/dl on day 4 of the mixed diet, and gradually decreased to 66 ng/dl on the last day of fasting. The administration of 50 grams of glucose after fasting was followed by an increase in mean serum T3 levels to 94 ng/dl. In the subjects given 100 grams of glucose, T3 levels dropped from 149 ng/dl on day 1 to 133 ng/dl on day 4 of the mixed diet, bottomed out at 76 ng/dl on day 7 of fasting, then rose to 110 ng/dl after 4 days of glucose administration. Similar results were obtained in subjects who consumed 100 grams of fructose instead of glucose.

In yet another group, the fasting phase was eliminated and the glucose diet (100 grams) was given immediately after the mixed diet. Despite the extremely low calorie consumption during the glucose-only phase, there was no decline in T3 values. Mean T3 concentrations were 178 ng/dl after five days of the mixed diet, and 179 ng/dl on day 1, 167 ng/dl on day 5, and 184 ng/dl on day 6 of the glucose-only diet[Burman KD].

For six weeks, six moderately obese, untrained subjects ate a zero-carb diet of lean meat, fish, or fowl, supplemented with minerals and vitamins and providing 500-750 calories per day. Serum concentrations of T3 decreased thirty-three percent and rT3 increased 72 percent after one week of the diet. T3 levels continued to decrease slightly, albeit non-significantly, while resting rT3 levels returned toward base line after week six. T4 concentrations were unaffected after the first week but showed a slight though insignificant fall after six weeks[Phinney SD].

Atkins-sponsored Volek et al examined the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet delivering a mean 46 grams of carbohydrate per day on body composition and hormonal responses in normal-weight young men, most of whom were recreational excercisers. Levels of various hormones were measured whilst the men were following their habitual high carbohydrate diet, then during and after six weeks of the carbohydrate-restricted diet. Upon commencement of the low-carbohydrate diet a small calorie deficit and a significant increase in protein intake occurred, resulting in a mean 3.3 kilogram fat loss and a 1.1 kilogram lean mass gain. There was a significant increase in total T4 (+ 10.8%), but for some reason the researchers did not directly measure T3 nor rT3. They instead tested T3 uptake, an indirect measure of thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in the blood, which tells us little of any real value about changes in actual thyroid hormone levels. The researchers also measured IGF-1, glucagon, total and free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and cortisol. The only significant change noted was a reduction in insulin following the low-carbohydrate diet[Volek].

Protein and the Thyroid

All the abovementioned studies examined the effect of altering carbohydrate intake on thyroid hormone levels. The results are virtually unanimous: decreasing carbohydrate intake to low levels results in diminished levels of T3 and/or increased rT3, something most aspiring fat-burners wish to avoid desperately.

I know this article is focused on carbohydrate’s effect on thyroid hormone levels, but what about the effect of keeping carbohydrate intake constant and only altering levels of protein and fat? Does this have any effect on thyroid hormone levels?

Let’s find out.

The Plot Fattens

Ullrich and colleagues compared two diets of equal carbohydrate content, one containing 35% protein, 30% fat, and 35% carbohydrate, the latter 10% protein, 55% fat, and 35% carbohydrate. Calories were adjusted so that each individual could maintain their weight throughout the study, but each individual consumed at least 200 grams of carbohydrate daily.

The subjects followed the diets in random order for seven days each. Mean T3 levels at baseline were 198 ng/dl; this declined to a significantly greater degree after the high fat diet (113 ng/dl) than the high-protein diet (138 ng/dl). T4 levels did not change significantly[Ullrich IH].

So What Does This All Mean?

Almost everyone assumes that low thyroid function equals excess weight gain, and that if only they could get their thyroid humming along like a Keonig-tuned Ferrari, eternal leanness is theirs for the taking.

[induced_drag]

continued

It ain’t that simple. The human hormonal network is amazingly intricate, with an endless array of feedback loops that impact upon hormonal output and function in ways that scientists still don’t fully understand. Focusing on the level of just one or 2 hormones is somewhat myopic and often ineffective.

Researchers, for example, have observed almost no difference in various measures of energy expenditure and body composition in obese individuals with normal thyroid function and subclinical hypothyroidism (of the numerous measurements taken, only resting energy expenditure per kilogram of fat free mass was significantly different and lower, and only in the most severely hypothyroid patients)[Tagliaferri].

Which makes it less surprising to learn that treatment of obesity with thyroid hormone has delivered lacklustre results. In a 1984 report, minor weight loss was seen with treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism, but bodyweight gradually returned to pre-treatment levels at 24 months[Hoogwerf].

And lowered T3/raised rT3 does not necessarily equate to measurable differences in metabolic rate. Numerous clinical studies have compared the effect of low-carb and high-carb diets on dietary induced thermogenesis (the increase in metabolism that occurs after a meal) and overall energy expenditure. There is either no detectable difference or a slight increase seen with higher carbohydrate meals and diets (I discuss this in detail in The Great Eades Smackdown, Part 1). However, even when differences are observed they are quite small and unlikely to have any meaningful impact upon weight loss.

Indeed, as explained in great length in The Fat Loss Bible, tightly controlled metabolic ward trials dating all the way back to 1935 repeatedly show no difference in fat-derived weight loss on isocaloric high- and low-carbohydrate diets, no matter what the caloric intake.

However, the longest lasting of these trials is around 2 months, which leaves open the possibility that the changes in thyroid levels seen on low-carb diets could cause unfavourable effects on weight status over the longer term, especially in susceptible subjects.

And remember, there’s a whole lot more to the thyroid story than just fat loss. The thyroid gland and the hormones it secretes have a profound effect on your overall health and energy levels. Any diet that produces untoward changes in thyroid hormone levels should be regarded with great caution – especially so if you are a hard training athlete whose physiology is subject to the added burden of regular and vigorous activity, or if you’ve previously displayed symptoms of low thyroid function (heightened cold intolerance, low morning temperature, clinically diagnosed thyroid dysfunction).

—

Anthony Colpo is an independent researcher, physical conditioning specialist, and author of the groundbreaking books The Fat Loss Bible and The Great Cholesterol Con. For more information, visit TheFatLossBible.net or TheGreatCholesterolCon.com

References

Danforth E Jr, et al. Dietary-induced Alterations in Thyroid Hormone Metabolism during Overnutrition. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1979; 64 (5): 1336–1347.

Gwartney D. Carbs make a comeback. Muscular Development, January 2010: 122-126.

Saris WHM, et al. Study on food intake and energy expenditure during extreme sustained exercise: The Tour de France. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 1989; 10 (Suppl 1): S26-S31. http://arno.unimaas.nl/show.cgi?fid=1571

The Advertiser, January 13, 2010: 45.

Spaulding SW, et al. Effect of caloric restriction and dietary composition of serum T3 and reverse T3 in man. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Jan, 1976; 42 (1): 197–200.

Davidson MB, Chopra IJ. Effect of carbohydrate and noncarbohydrate sources of calories on plasma 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine concentrations in man. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Apr, 1979; 48 (4): 577–581.

Azizi F. Effect of dietary composition on fasting induced changes in serum thyroid hormones and thyrotropin. Metabolism, 1978; 27: 935-942.

Serog P, et al. Effects of slimming and composition of diets on V02 and thyroid hormones in healthy subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan 1982; 35: 24-35.

Fery F, et al. Hormonal and metabolic changes induced by an isocaloric isoproteinic ketogenic diet in healthy subjects. Diabetes & Metabolism, Dec 1982; 8 (4): 299-305.

Mathieson RA, et al. The effect of varying carbohydrate content of a very-low-caloric diet on resting metabolic rate and thyroid hormones. Metabolism, May, 1986; 35 (5): 394-398.

Hendler RG, et al. Sucrose substitution in prevention and reversal of the fall in metabolic rate accompanying hypocaloric diets. American Journal of Medicine, 1986; 81 (2): 280-284.

Burman KD, et al. Glucose modulation of alterations in serum iodothyronine concentrations induced by fasting. Metabolism, Apr, 1979; 28 (4): 291–299.

Phinney SD, et al. Capacity for moderate exercise in obese subjects after adaptation to a hypocaloric, ketogenic diet. Journal of Clinical Investigation, Nov, 1980; 66 (5): 1152-1161.

Volek JS, et al. Body composition and hormonal responses to a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Metabolism. 2002 Jul; 51 (7): 864-870.

Ullrich IH, et al. Effect of low-carbohydrate diets high in either fat or protein on thyroid function, plasma insulin, glucose, and triglycerides in healthy young adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1985; 4 (4): 451-459.

Tagliaferri M, et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism in obese patients: relation to resting energy expenditure, serum leptin, body composition, and lipid profile. Obesity Research, 2001 Mar; 9 (3): 196-201.

Hoogwerf BJ, Nuttall FQ. Long-Term Weight Regulation in Treated Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Subjects. American Journal of Medicine, June 1984; 76: 963-970.

—

Copyright © Anthony Colpo.

[DuracellBunny]

As I said, the problem could be self inflicted due to diet. There are certain foods (I know cabbage is one) that have specific affects on thyroid function as well; regardless of the carb/fat/protein effects.

[itseemsunlikely]

Interesting. I've been on thyroid meds and also had a serious head injury. My doctor did not prescribe the typical thyroid medication, for which I'm thankful, because it's not the best way of attack, from what I now know. Forum rules prevent me from mentioning exactly what I was prescribed, but if you Google a site called Stop The Thyroid Madness they talk about this a lot. These days I've busted it back to just a natural pill called desiccated bovine thyroid, which does not require a prescription. And I take a much reduced dose to what I took in the past. My thyroid issues have mostly resolved, though other, non-pharmeceutical, means.

[induced_drag]

As I said, the problem could be self inflicted due to diet. There are certain foods (I know cabbage is one) that have specific affects on thyroid function as well; regardless of the carb/fat/protein effects.

Pretty sure mine is head injury related. (pituitary). I never had issues prior and ended up with low-t and hypothyroid after it. (but took almost 3 years to figure out why I felt so bad.) My neurologist said to expect personality changes, mood swings...etc. For a long time I figured it was that. Finally after getting in better and better shape and eating the best I ever had in my life, I KNEW something had to be wrong. That was when I went and got my hormone levels checked.

I researched into food related deficiencies and tried playing for the last year with that. While I completed my first year of treatment for 'other' things. Since I had no real change, I decided to go ahead with treatment considering there are really no downsides and I still have some fatigue issues despite TRT helping with that greatly.

[cmoore]

Agree:
-top tier athletes (particularly endurance based) require higher carbohydrate intake
-chemically enhanced bodybuilder can utilize and benefit from high carbs (I'm surprised he didn't mention Haney too)

I disagree that proper thyroid function is tied specifically/only to high carbohydrate intake. It's not that simple.

There is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate

I think there is increased need/value for SCFA and MCFAs inclusion in long term lower carbohydrate diets (partly for thyroid benefit)

[edit] It was an interesting read, thanks for sharing it[/edit]

[DuracellBunny]

Pretty sure mine is head injury related. (pituitary). I never had issues prior and ended up with low-t and hypothyroid after it. (but took almost 3 years to figure out why I felt so bad.) My neurologist said to expect personality changes, mood swings...etc. For a long time I figured it was that. Finally after getting in better and better shape and eating the best I ever had in my life, I KNEW something had to be wrong. That was when I went and got my hormone levels checked.

I researched into food related deficiencies and tried playing for the last year with that. While I completed my first year of treatment for 'other' things. Since I had no real change, I decided to go ahead with treatment considering there are really no downsides and I still have some fatigue issues despite TRT helping with that greatly.

It sounds like it's going to be a balancing act then. Thyroid, TRT, calcium and iron interact in a mess of ways, so it will be whichever combination of whatever gives the best overall results.