While Armour Thyroid is a medication used to treat hypothyroidism and other thyroid conditions, it's crucial to understand its role in weight loss, its potential risks, and the available alternatives. This article provides a comprehensive overview, drawing upon research and expert opinions to offer a balanced perspective.
Understanding Armour Thyroid
Armour Thyroid is a natural preparation derived from porcine (pig) thyroid glands, known as a desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) with a strong natural odor. It contains both levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3), hormones that replace missing thyroid hormones in individuals with hypothyroidism. Besides hypothyroidism, Armour Thyroid can also be used to treat euthyroid goiters, multinodular goiters, thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer.
The Link Between Hypothyroidism and Weight
Patients with a "sluggish" thyroid often experience symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, and cold extremities. It is not uncommon for people with low thyroid levels to lose up to 10% of their body weight when starting thyroid medications, such as Armour Thyroid. This weight is mainly water weight, since being hypothyroid makes you retain water and weight gain is one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Taking thyroid replacement therapy may reverse that weight gain. You may return to the normal body weight you would have been without the fluid retention caused by hypothyroidism. As a result patients with a “sluggish” thyroid often experience symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, cold extremities, constipation, and so on.
Armour Thyroid and Weight Loss: What the Research Says
Many individuals with hypothyroidism experience weight gain. Treating hypothyroidism with Armour Thyroid can result in weight loss for these individuals. A 2018 study documented some individuals without hypothyroidism who have taken Armour Thyroid as a supplement to promote weight loss. A 2020 study, researchers examined people who began taking a DTE for hypothyroidism. Over 80% of these individuals reported that they found DTEs to be an effective treatment. In a double-blinded study of 70 participants, those taking Armour Thyroid lost nearly three pounds more than those taking Synthroid.
The Dangers of Using Armour Thyroid for Weight Loss in Individuals with Normal Thyroid Function
It is important to emphasize that Armour Thyroid should not be used as a treatment for weight loss or obesity. Using Armour Thyroid to reduce weight in people with normal thyroid levels is dangerous, not safe, and can be life-threatening. Strokes, seizures, shock, coma, and death have been reported in people who have taken higher than recommended dosages of thyroid hormone preparations for weight loss.
Read also: Armour Thyroid: A Weight Loss Solution?
Potential Side Effects and Risks of Armour Thyroid
The side effects of Armour Thyroid vary among individuals. In some cases, taking this medication can lead to thyroid hormone toxicity. Signs of this condition include: rapid pulse profuse sweating heat sensitivity anxietychest pain heart palpitations. Some people who take Armour Thyroid may also experience hair loss. In most cases, this side effect goes away within a few months. Taking too much of this medication can also cause an overdose reaction. This can cause: feverlow blood sugardehydrationheart problems. Desiccated thyroid extracts are considered high risk for atrial fibrillation and other abnormal heart rhythms particularly in people over the age of 65. Another concern is that thyroid extracts have three and a half times more T3 than T4 compared to the ratio produced by a healthy human thyroid gland. If levels of T3 become too high this can affect heart health, bone density, and cause symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Armour Thyroid has a narrow therapeutic index - this means there is a fine line between taking too much or having too little.
Drug Interactions
Certain medications can cause a negative interaction with Armour Thyroid. These medications include: blood thinners cholestyramine colestipol some types of oral birth control estrogen insulin oral hypoglycemics. In a 2018 study, a 32-year-old man taking Armour Thyroid experienced a heart attack. This individual was also taking testosterone prescribed by a doctor. The researchers in this study concluded that combining these two medications can increase the risk of heart attack. Taking Armour Thyroid may worsen cardiovascular disease in certain cases. This is particularly true for older adults and for those with a history of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, Armour Thyroid medication may worsen symptoms for people with diabetes. This medication can also make people more sensitive to oral blood-thinning medications. Anyone taking blood thinners should consult with a doctor before beginning Armour Thyroid. Researchers have also found that Armour Thyroid may increase levels of the thyroglobulin (Tg) protein. People with a history of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) regularly undergo testing for Tg levels. For these individuals, high Tg levels may indicate that their cancer is coming back. Because of this, researchers have recommended that people with a history of DTC avoid taking Armour Thyroid.
Armour Thyroid vs. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
Treatment of hypothyroidism is predominantly with levothyroxine due to its ability to generate stable T3 levels and its long half-life. Many patients report continued hypothyroid symptoms despite normal TSH values on levothyroxine and request to switch to desiccated animal thyroid extract. Desiccated thyroid extract is less used for fear of side effects and risks. There are only a handful of studies available comparing desiccated animal thyroid extract to levothyroxine. One of the most common medications for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine. This medication replaces thyroxine, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Most people who take this medication do not experience serious side effects. However, some people may have a negative experience with levothyroxine. A 2021 study found that people who had side effects with this medication saw improvement after switching to Armour Thyroid. After beginning levothyroxine, individuals undergo regular blood tests to measure hormone levels. Depending on these levels, adjusting the dose of levothyroxine may be necessary instead. Some individuals with hypothyroidism may benefit from taking levothyroxine along with triiodothyronine. But research into combination therapy remains limited.
Evidence For The Use of Synthroid Over Armour Thyroid?
The discovery that most T3 was converted from T4 via an enzyme in the body. The diagnostic tools for measuring blood levels of thyroid hormones advanced. Synthroid produces more consistent hormone levels and fewer side effects. Synthroid (levothyroxine) was thought to offer a safe and consistent dosage. Current thyroid association guidelines recommend Synthroid as the first treatment option.
Is Armour Thyroid Better Because it Contains T3?
Some people with specific genetic mutations may not be able to either convert T4 into T3 or transport T3 in and out of cells from the blood. It’s possible a small percentage of people feel better with Armour Thyroid because of the T3 component. Essentially, T3 given in medication (Armour Thyroid) makes regulating blood T3 levels difficult.
Read also: Comparing Thyroid Medications
Why Don’t Doctors Prescribe Armour Thyroid?
Doctors in the United States may hesitate to prescribe Armour Thyroid because it is not approved by the FDA. They may also avoid prescribing this medication to individuals with certain health conditions, such as people with a history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or certain types of thyroid cancer. Armour Thyroid may not be a safe or effective medication for some of these individuals.
Considerations for Patients on Levothyroxine
Some patients have no issues with peripheral thyroid conversion and they readily and actively convert T4 to T3 when it is supplied. Unfortunately, some people may require higher amounts of T3 due to reasons such tissue level hypothyroidism, euthyroid sick syndrome/low T3 syndrome (10), or peripheral thyroid conversion disorders. Patients with high stress, high levels of inflammation, leptin resistance, insulin resistance, etc. You are suffering from infertility or menstrual problems despite taking thyroid medication.
Practical Tips for Taking Armour Thyroid
- Take Armour thyroid on an empty stomach.
- Take away from supplements that contain Calcium and Iron but pretty much avoid all supplements if possible.
- Splitting your dose.
- Consider taking it at night.
Lifestyle Modifications for Thyroid Health and Weight Management
Losing weight can often help bring thyroid hormone levels back to normal.
Obesity and COVID-19 Risk
Obesity is a major risk factor for covid-19 and people who are obese are more likely than those who are not obese to contract Covid-19 at a younger age, develop severe Covid-19, require hospitalization, oxygen, mechanical ventilation, intubation, or admission into ICU, end up in hospital sooner, or die from Covid-19.
Alternative Medications for Weight Management
Ozempic is also approved to lower the risk of a major cardiovascular event (like a heart attack or stroke) in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease and heart-related death in patients with type 2 diabetes. You and your healthcare provider should discuss the risks vs. Zepbound and Mounjaro contain the same active ingredient (tirzepatide) and both are made by Eli Lilly and Company, but they have different FDA approved uses and insurance coverage.
Read also: Eating with Thyroid Nodules
Cautionary Tale: Armour Thyroid and Testosterone Interaction
Armour® Thyroid (Forest Pharmaceuticals, LLC; affiliate of Allergan, Dublin, Ireland) is a natural porcine derivative thyroid supplement that is frequently used without physician monitoring by health enthusiasts as a weight loss supplement. A 32-year-old male with a history of hypothyroidism, cystic acne, and solitary congenital kidney presented to the emergency room after experiencing crushing substernal chest pain radiating to his left shoulder, accompanied by diaphoresis and shortness of breath. The patient denied any tobacco use or family history of heart disease. He was self-administering 120 mg of Armour Thyroid daily. On examination, the patient was well-developed with cystic acne and a flushed appearance. His vital signs on admission were a blood pressure of 171/106 mmHg, heart rate of 88 beats per minute (bpm), and respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min. The electrocardiogram revealed marked ST-segment elevation in the anterior chest leads. Laboratory studies revealed elevated troponins. Urine drug screen was negative. The patient underwent an emergent coronary angiogram, which confirmed an occluded left anterior descending artery. Evaluation for other causes of thrombosis was negative: glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) 5.5%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 127 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) 33 mg/dL, hypercoagulable evaluation negative, and hemoglobin (Hgb) 17.1 gm/dL. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were < 0.20 miu/mL. Focused questioning triggered by his cystic acne led to the discovery that the patient was self-administering exogenous testosterone replacement therapy. The patient declined to share specifics with the healthcare team. Due to the potential drug interaction between both natural and prescribed thyroid hormone and testosterone supplements, patients should be discouraged from self-administration of thyroid or anabolic steroids. Physicians prescribing testosterone and thyroid hormone supplementation should consider the potential for drug interaction of these medications and adjust the levothyroxine dose based on frequent serum thyroid hormone level monitoring.
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