Thyroid Medication Tested for Lowering Cholesterol

A study on an experimental thyroid medication that lowers cholesterol levels has just been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This highlights an important issue and the failings of our current health care system.

We have known for more than 50 years that low-thyroid function increases cholesterol levels. I have mentioned this connection in my book and on this site.

Dr Broda Barnes (the pioneering endocrinologist) frequently saw this connection. He repeatedly found that the correct administration of thyroid hormones lowered cholesterol levels.  

With such a strong and well-established connection, we might expect that people with higher cholesterol levels are urged to consider the possibility of a low-thyroid function. However, in general, they are not. 

The current medical system is so heavily influenced by large powerful pharmaceutical companies that preference is given to interventions that generate billions of dollars for these companies. Even  when less expensive, safer, and more effective treatments are available.

Drug companies have of course known for decades that many of the people they are recommending statins to, don't need statins – they need to fix their thyroid. 

So this week we get a study showing that a thyroid medication lowers cholesterol. But the researchers were clever enough not to use this thyroid medication on its own. They gave one group of people a placebo and the other group the thyroid medication in addition to a statin.

If they used the thyroid medication on its own, the results might indicate that this new medication could be used as an alternative or substitute for statins. 

You can't blame drug companies for trying to show that two medications may be needed instead of one. After all, these companies have to increase profits and grow their business. These commercial pressures remain the same, whether patients benefit from the drugs or not.

Incidentally, this was another study where the researchers only looked at the effect on cholesterol levels without regard to any actual real benefits in terms of actual lives saved or reduced incidence of disease.

An ideal hypothetical conversation:

[Mrs Smith goes to see her doctor for the results of her cholesterol check]

Doctor:  “Mrs Smith, I have the results of your tests and your total cholesterol level is 280 mg/dl (7.2 mmol/l). According to the latest guidelines, your cholesterol level is way too high. However, in reality, we know from the largest study ever done that cholesterol levels can vary between 105 mg/dl (2.8 mmol/l) and 343 mg/dl (8.8 mmol/l) in healthy people without heart disease. So, any cholesterol level within this broad range is normal. We also know that cholesterol is not a reliable indicator of the risk for heart disease. 

However, a significant change in your personal cholesterol level can indicate a problem at another level. I have looked through your records and your cholesterol level two years ago was 220 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/l). This increase in your individual cholesterol level does not in itself increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, however, it may be an indication of a problem with the metabolism of cholesterol or a problem at another level. We are going to work through this together to investigate what might be happening. One possibility is that you have hypothyroidism. We will also take a good look at your diet and lifestyle.“ 

Mrs Smith: “But are you not going to recommended statins to lower my cholesterol and cardiovascular risk?”

Doctor: “Well, billions of dolars have been spent on statin clinical trails. Despite all of this research, there is still no strong evidence that statins benefit women of any age. Within the medical profession there is a general belief that statins will benefit women, but this largely stems from the pre-occupation with lowering cholesterol. There is a general feeling that lowering cholesterol must some-how benefit women, even if this has not been shown in any of the large scale studies. Unfortunately, so many of my colleagues have accepted the supposed 'dangers' of cholesterol without looking at the actual evidence.  If I were to prescribe statins for you, it is extremely unlikely that you will benefit, but highly likely that you will suffer adverse effects associated with the medication.

This list of adverse effects associated with statins is growing all the time. Statins are associated with a greater risk for type 2 diabetes, depression, sleep disturbances, memory loss, sexual disfunction, lung disease, muscle related problems, cognitive loss, neuropathy, pancreatic and hepatic dysfunction. 

Adverse effects can also persist once the drug has been stopped.

Then there are the unknown risks. Within the medical literature, there is a well documented connection between low cholesterol levels and cancer. At least 12 studies have shown this connection. Stain manufacturers have been very keen to dismiss any idea that their products increase the risk for cancer but significant questions remain.

So, no, Mrs Smith, I'm not recommending statins for you.”

Reference: 

Ladenson, PW et al. Use of the Thyroid Hormone Analogue Eprotirome in Statin-Treated Dyslipidemia. New England Journal of Medicine 2010; 362:906-16

Comments

[Colin Carmichael]

I really don't have problems with my cholesterol level so I don't even search further more on this topic. However, I have learned more from this post, especially the truth about statins.

Colin Carmichael
Crunch Cholesterol

[Emily Whan]

I've low adrenal reserves and doctor recommends that high cholesterol is essential for adrenal hormone productions....not sure how it's gonna effect my health overall.