Use of over-the-counter thyroid support pills is risky, study finds

[Andros]

Use of over-the-counter thyroid support pills is risky, study finds.

People who use over-the-counter "thyroid support" supplements may be putting their health at risk, according to a study being presented at the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association. The supplements contain varying amounts of two different kinds of thyroid hormones apparently derived in large part from chopped up animal thyroid glands, says the study's senior investigator, Victor Bernet, M.D., an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Read on............

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-over-the-counter-thyroid-pills-risky.html

[webster2]

Very interesting. I had no idea there are OTC thyroid supplements. Very risky business.

I did find one of the side bar stories interesting too. On sleep...

http://www.physorg.com/news105794385.html

Thank you for providing all of these informative news bits.

[Andros]

Very interesting. I had no idea there are OTC thyroid supplements. Very risky business.

I did find one of the side bar stories interesting too. On sleep...

http://www.physorg.com/news105794385.html

Thank you for providing all of these informative news bits.

You maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaade me do it!! I read the link and also found it very interesting.

[webster2]

Wasn't it interesting? All of the articles were. My dad has many side effects from Agent Orange. TG Graves isn't one of them. Lots of good info in there! TYVM, as always!

[bigfoot]

Thanks for the links! Go Professor Martin!!!

Maybe more of us should have majored in Biology, then folks would take us seriously, LOL.

[ctob]

I don't understand why supplements are not FDA regulated. Without knowing by blood testing, how can we go in and take this or that and know it is helping us or a waste of money in many cases or harmful. Like if I am not deficient in something why take a supplement for it? I don't get it. How do we know one from the other if it is as potent. I will take the D, high C and B-complex as the doctor ordered but anything else, I'm scared to do that because doc didn't say so.

[Andros]

I don't understand why supplements are not FDA regulated. Without knowing by blood testing, how can we go in and take this or that and know it is helping us or a waste of money in many cases or harmful. Like if I am not deficient in something why take a supplement for it? I don't get it. How do we know one from the other if it is as potent. I will take the D, high C and B-complex as the doctor ordered but anything else, I'm scared to do that because doc didn't say so.

I am with you on that one!! One could easily cause more harm.

[bigfoot]

I'm actually kind of glad the FDA hasn't stepped in to regulate vitamins and supplements -- although I'm sure they would really like to. I think if the FDA started required regulation many of the companies would close down, both good and bad. The cost to meet the regulations and requirements would be astronomical. That would lead to an increased price, decreased supply, tough availability, and more red tape just to get something like Vitamin C.

Just my $0.02 :rolleyes: