The reason why Barnes’ paper showing that desiccated thyroid lowering cholesterol levels and seeming to prevent cardiovascular disease isn’t cited is because he was basically making his patients hyperthyroid. Lower cholesterol levels occur in hyperthyroidism.
There is a doctor I know of in California who gives his patients supra-physiological levels of T3 hormone (cytomel) to increase their metabolism, to help them lose weight, and to lower their cholesterol levels. It basically suppresses the thyroid’s own production of hormone. In the short term, it works. It’s brilliant. But it’s crazy. We have no idea what the long-term consequences are. And since I’m pretty sure he’s not running a study on it, we won’t.
Why is this a reason not to reject it? He is essentially arguing that the major cause of cardiovascular disease is population-wide high rates of hypothyroidism. It would be a circular argument to dismiss that because his treatment leads to a greater than average metabolic rate. One would also need evidence of a disadvantage that outweighs the advantages. His patients seemed to be doing well, or at least he doesn’t report them exhibiting any classic signs of hyperthyroidism. He was primarily adjusting dose based on body temperature to the upper end of the normal non-hyperthyroid range.
to help them lose weight
I have seen studies on thyroid supplementation as a weight loss strategy, and it causes loss of lean tissue (muscle, etc.) more than fat.
The reason why Barnes’ paper showing that desiccated thyroid lowering cholesterol levels and seeming to prevent cardiovascular disease isn’t cited is because he was basically making his patients hyperthyroid. Lower cholesterol levels occur in hyperthyroidism.
There is a doctor I know of in California who gives his patients supra-physiological levels of T3 hormone (cytomel) to increase their metabolism, to help them lose weight, and to lower their cholesterol levels. It basically suppresses the thyroid’s own production of hormone. In the short term, it works. It’s brilliant. But it’s crazy. We have no idea what the long-term consequences are. And since I’m pretty sure he’s not running a study on it, we won’t.
Why is this a reason not to reject it? He is essentially arguing that the major cause of cardiovascular disease is population-wide high rates of hypothyroidism. It would be a circular argument to dismiss that because his treatment leads to a greater than average metabolic rate. One would also need evidence of a disadvantage that outweighs the advantages. His patients seemed to be doing well, or at least he doesn’t report them exhibiting any classic signs of hyperthyroidism. He was primarily adjusting dose based on body temperature to the upper end of the normal non-hyperthyroid range.
I have seen studies on thyroid supplementation as a weight loss strategy, and it causes loss of lean tissue (muscle, etc.) more than fat.