The January cover story of Oprah Winfrey’s O! The Oprah Magazine features the newest developments in her ongoing battle with weight – tipping the scales at over 200lbs. Now Oprah is saying her battle is largely due to thyroid problems. This discovery has left many people with questions about the thyroid gland, hormones and weight gain. Let’s see if we can make it all a little clearer.
What is the Thyroid?
The thyroid—a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck—makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy. Your thyroid controls your metabolism, which is how your body turns food into energy, and also affects your heart, muscles, bones and cholesterol.
While thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter (enlarged gland) to life-threatening cancer, the most common thyroid problems involve an abnormal production of thyroid hormones. Excessive amounts of these chemicals results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism. Too little hormone production leads to hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism
When the thyroid gland is underactive, hypothyroidism, metabolism slows down causing weight gain, fatigue, hair loss and more. Thyroid symptoms often come from having the far more common underactive thyroid than to have an overactive thyroid. In fact, some estimates state that as many as 1 in 7 adults suffer from hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid gland is overactive, hyperthyroidism, metabolisms speeds up causing anxiety, heart palpitations, insomnia and more. In hyperthyroidism, the hormones secreted by the thyroid are being produced too much. These high levels of thyroid hormones result in an increased metabolism – causing weight loss. However, some people with this condition over-eat because of the increased appetite, and may still experience thyroid weight gain.
Thyroid Hormones
Of the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland, T4 is the most produced and has very low activity. Once the T4 is released, it is converted to the active thyroid hormone, T3, in your body. Many things affect your ability to make this conversion. Stress and high cortisol will reduce this conversion. If you are nutritionally depleted in iodine, selenium and vitamin A, you will also have reduced activity of your thyroid hormones.
Reverse T3 is a hormone created from T4 by your body when your cortisol level is very high. Reverse T3 has no activity that helps your body slow its metabolism way down when it perceives a serious problem (like whatever caused the high cortisol levels).
While it may be tempting to blame the thyroid when weight increases, weight gain has many causes. If you have gained an excessive amount of weight you should discuss with your physicians whether thyroid function testing is needed.
The good news is the thyroid hormone imbalances are correctable through proper testing and treatment using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
I haven’t read Oprah’s article, but isn’t she also peri-menopausal? And isn’t thyroid often one of the things that changes with menopause?
Cari,
Oprah has talked about being premenopausal in O! Magazine (article). And yes, thyroid problems, particularly hypothyroidism, are common in women who are peri-menopausal and any time hormones are out of balance. There is also a strong connection between the reproductive hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone and thyroid hormone levels. Stress hormone levels, namely cortisol, also have a significant effect on thyroid function. Significant stress often results from a hormonal imbalance, like that found in perimenopause or menopause. In turn, cortisol levels are higher and this reduces the ability of your body to properly use and convert the thyroid hormones.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy works to balance these reproductive hormones, the stress hormone and the hormones of the thyroid glands. This can often work to correct thyroid problems and alleviate the other symptoms of peri-menopause.
Hope this answers your question.
Heidi Archer MD
BodyLogicMD Potomac Falls, VA
What is your take on the use of armour thyroid (dessicated thyroid) for T4 and T3? Here’s an article describing its use: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2008/12/09/oprah-still-doesnt-get-it-let-me-come-on-your-show-oprah/#comment-31089
Jacqueline,
The thyroid hormones include thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and reverse triiodothyronine (Reverse T3). Of the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland, T4 is produced in the largest amount and has very low activity. Once the T4 is released in your body, it is converted to the active thyroid hormone, T3. Things like stress and high cortisol levels negatively affect your ability to make this conversion. You will also have reduced activity of your thyroid hormones f you are nutritionally depleted in iodine, selenium and/or vitamin A.
Your body creates Reverse T3 from T4 when your cortisol level is very high. Reverse T3 has no activity and this, in turn, helps your body slow its metabolism way down when it perceives a serious problem (like whatever caused the high cortisol levels).
When hypothyroidism is treated, it is important to follow levels of T3 and T4. Synthroid and Levoxyl are bioidentical medications commonly used for treatment, but are T4 only medications. If you have trouble converting T4 to T3, they will not be effective. Cytomel is a bioidentical medication containing only T3 which can be used in conjunction with Synthroid or Levoxyl for those that have trouble with conversion. Armour thyroid is a bioidentical hormone which combines T4 and T3 (in a 4 to 1 ratio of T4 to T3) and for this reason, it can be a very effective solution.
I hope this helps!
Mikhail Berman MD
BodyLogicMD Palm Beach Gardens, FL
I developed hyperthyroidism after using an IUD. I was wondering if u think that Bioidenticals could help restore balance and normalize my thyroid?
Cheri,
One of the prime uses of natural bioidentical hormone therapy is to correct horomonal imbalances caused by the thyroid. Bioidenticals can almost certainly help you. Visit our site to find an expert bioidentical hormone physician near you http://www.bodylogicmd.com/.
Wishing you good health!