Season's Greetings

From eNewsletter 12/16/2024

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Thyroid Med and Bone Loss

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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Bicarb Buffers Special Kind of Stress

From eNewsletter 12/9/2024

DID YOU KNOW that jet lag does more than cause sleep disruption?

The study from iScience highlights that something as little as a 5-hour time delay may lead to reduced energy spent processing meals, changes in blood sugar and fat levels, and slower release of breakfast contents from the stomach.

The metabolic effects are temporary and most subjects recovered within 2-3 days of the 5-hour time delay. This was in marked contrast to the main clock in the brain, plus feelings of sleepiness and alertness, which had not recovered within 5 days of the 5-hour time delay.

This underscores the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, particularly when long trips and shift work are more common.

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