From eNewsletter 12/11/2024
DID YOU KNOW that Levothyroxine (Synthroid), the second most commonly prescribed medication among older adults in the U.S., may be associated with bone loss, according to a study presented recently at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of a hormone called thyroxine and is commonly prescribed to treat the condition hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. In people with hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine on its own, often resulting in fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and other symptoms. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications.
However, the study's authors suggest data indicates that a significant proportion of thyroid hormone prescriptions may be given to older adults without hypothyroidism, raising concerns about subsequent relative excess of thyroid hormone even when treatment is targeted to reference range goals.
Our optimal reference range for TSH is 2.0-2.5. The lower it gets, the higher the risk of bone loss. So try to keep it as close to this range as possible.
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