What is hypothyroidism? What is Natural Desiccated Thyroid Extract?

Hypothyroidism also known as underactive thyroid,it happens when thyroid gland can not produce enough thyroid hormone to keep the human body running normally.The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ situated in the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple (larynx). It is an endocrine gland, made up of special cells that make hormones.Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to run your body’s metabolism, it is not surprising that people with hypothyroidism often have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism commonly include, but are not limited to:

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Cold intolerance

• Slowed heart rate, movements, and speech

• Joint and muscle pain, cramps, and weakness

• Constipation

• Dry skin

• Thin, brittle hair or fingernails

• Decreased sweating

• Pins and needles

• Heavy periods, or menorrhagia

• Weakness

• High cholesterol

• Puffy face, feet, and hands

• Insomnia

• Balance and co-ordination issues

• Loss of libido

  Rrecurrent urinary and respiratory tract infections

• Anemia

• Depression

If left untreated, the following symptoms can manifest:

• Hoarseness

• Puffiness in the face

• thinned or missing eyebrows

• Slow heart rate

• Hearing   loss

• Levothyroxine is the main thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland and the synthetic form is the most common form of thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Prior to the availability of the pure levothyroxine, Desiccated Thyroid Extract(DTE) was the only treatment for hypothyroidism. Today, some individuals prefer dessicated thyroid extract（thyroid powder） as a more “natural” thyroid hormone. In addition, some patients who continue to have symptoms of hypothyroidism when taking levothyroxine report improvement in these symptoms when switched to desiccated thyroid extract. This study was performed to compare levothyroxine to desiccated thyroid extract in terms of thyroid blood tests, changes in weight, psychometric test results and patient preference.

What is Natural Desiccated Thyroid?‍

NDT – also referred to as desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) or "porcine thyroid" – is a thyroid hormone replacement medication in continuous use since the early 1900s. It was the first treatment for hypothyroidism and the only available treatment for the first half of the twentieth century.

References:

Commercially available DTE products are derived from cleaned, dried and powdered pig thyroid glands formulated into doses called ‘‘grains’’.

One grain contains 38 micrograms of thyroxine (T4) and 9 micrograms of liothyronine (T3) per 65mg of the labelled amount of thyroid.

Unlike synthetic levothyroxine – the thyroid hormone T4, which the body normally converts to an active and more potent form called T3 – desiccated thyroid extracts contain T4 plus T3 as well as small amounts of thyroid co-factors T1, T2, calcitonin and iodine. Some proponents say this suite of ingredients is more “natural.” Others say they just feel better taking it.

In one of the only studies comparing desiccated thyroid extract to levothyroxine, doctors from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, compared the results when 70 people with hypothyroidism took each medication for 16 weeks. Afterward, 49% said they preferred the extract, 18% preferred levothyroxine and 33% had no preference. “Patients who preferred DTE [desiccated thyroid extract] lost approximately 4 pounds …compared with L-T4 treatment. In addition, their general well-being and thyroid symptoms were significantly better,” the researchers report.