Everyone Healthy Library
Hypothyroidism
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
6Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
1Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
11Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Medical therapy
2Alternative and complementary therapies
3Alternative medicine
2Vitamins and minerals
1Minerals
1Amino acids
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
43These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Apolipoprotein B Concentration
- Bilirubin Concentration (Neonates, Neonatal Bilirubin)
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cholesterol Concentration
- Creatine Kinase Concentration
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT, OGTT, 120 Minutes After Glucose Load)
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT, OGTT, 160 Minutes After Glucose Load)
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT, OGTT, 30 Minutes After Glucose Load)
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT, OGTT, 60 Minutes After Glucose Load)
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT, OGTT, Fasting Glucose)
- Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes (1 Hour After Glucose Load)
- Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes (Fasting Glucose Value)
- Glucose, Blood (Fasting Blood Glucose)
- Glucose, Blood (Post Prandiol Blood Glucose Test, 2 Hour Post Meal Blood Glucose)
- Glucose, Blood (Random Blood Glucose Test)
- Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration
- Intracranial Prassure Monitoring (CSF Pressure)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Magnesium Concentration (Mg, Blood)
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Prolactin Concentration
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Sodium Concentration (Na, Blood)
- Sweat Testing
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Free T4) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Thyroxine Binding Globulin Concentration (TBG, Thyroid Binding Globulin, Blood)
- Triglyceride (TGs) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine Chloride Concentration
- Urine Estriol (E3) Concentration
- Urine Fatty Cast Concentration
- Urine Hydroxyproline Concentration
- Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Biological and test markers
34This visual map uses existing EH database links to show biological agents and lab markers reported as increased, decreased, or associated with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
19- Apolipoprotein B (Apo B)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 47–115 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 52–120 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Apolipoprotein B Concentration
- Bilirubin (Unconjugated Fraction)Reference range exampleBirth - 2wks: 0–10 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 0.2–0.75 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests2Bilirubin Concentration (Neonates, Neonatal Bilirubin)
- Chloride (Sweat, Cl)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 0–50 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Sweat Testing
- Cholesterol (Total)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 75–180 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 0–190 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Cholesterol Concentration
- Creatine Kinase3 (CK-MM) IsoenzymeReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 97–100 %Linked diagnostic tests1Creatine Kinase Concentration
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests3Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Intracranial Pressure (Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure, CSF Pressure)Linked diagnostic tests1Intracranial Prassure Monitoring (CSF Pressure)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 120–250 units/L; Adult ( > 16y): 100–200 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Magnesium (Mg, Blood)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 1.3–2.6 mEq/L; Birth - 2wks: 1.4–2.2 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Magnesium Concentration (Mg, Blood)
- ProlactinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–24 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–19 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Prolactin Concentration
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) VolumeReference range example76–100 fLLinked diagnostic tests1Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Sodium (Na, Sweat)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 70–90 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Sweat Testing
- Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TBG, Thyroid Binding Globulin, Blood)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y), Female: 1.7–3.6 mg/dL; Infant (0 - 1y), Male: 1.6–3.5 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Thyroxine Binding Globulin Concentration (TBG, Thyroid Binding Globulin
- TriglyceridesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 32–137 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 35–155 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests2Triglyceride (TG's) Concentration, Triglyceride (TGs) Concentration
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Urine ChlorideReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 2–10 mmol/day; Child (0 - 16y): 15–14 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Chloride Concentration
- Urine Fatty CastReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–0 PresentLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Fatty Cast Concentration
- Urine SodiumReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 41–115 mmol/day; Adult ( > 16y): 40–220 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
Often decreased
15- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 30–125 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 40–110 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose (Blood)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 3–6.1 mmol/L; Adult ( > 16y): 0–6.1 mmol/LLinked diagnostic tests11fasting Blood Glucose Test, Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT
- Hydroxyproline (Urine Excretion Rate)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 14–45 mg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 0.4–2.9 mg/2hrsLinked diagnostic tests2Urine Amino Acid Concentration, Urine Hydroxyproline Concentration
- RBC MassReference range exampleFemale: 36–48 %; Male: 42–52 %Linked diagnostic tests1Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Red Blood Cells (RBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 3.6–5 106/mm3; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4.2–5.4 106/mm3Linked diagnostic tests1Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Sodium (Na, Blood)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 134–150 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 136–145 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Sodium Concentration (Na, Blood)
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic tests2Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Thyroxine Index (Free T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.007–0.023 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Thyroxine (Free T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine Estriol (E3)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–60 µg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 1–11 µg/24hrsLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Estriol (E3) Concentration
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic tests1Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Other associated markers
0No markers in this group.
Introduction / full article
Hypothyroidism
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
St John's Wort (Goatweed, tipton weed, Hypericum Perforatum) [3, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that St Johns Wort can help to treat hypothyroidism)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Selenium Supplement [3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. IMPORTANT: Selenium is toxic in high doses. Massive overdoses can cause kidney failure, breathing difficulty and death. Selenium should only be taken at healthy levels which the body is able to tolerate.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidene does not support claims that selenium helps to prevent or treat any thyroid conditions)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Saw Palmetto Extract [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Palmetto extract may cause side effects, though these are uncommon. They may include headache, vomiting, dizziness, constipation, diarrhoea, insomnia or fatigue. Long term effects have not yet been researched.
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that saw palmetto helps to treat hypothyroidism. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra):
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly against (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Walnut helps to treat hypothyroidism)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch113/ch113c.html?qt=ichthyosis&alt=sh#sec10-ch113-ch113c-293
2. http://archderm.highwire.org/cgi/content/summary/52/3/178
3. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/saw-palmetto
5. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/palmetto/
6. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-sawpalmetto.html
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12137626
8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16467543
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18423748
10. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/saw-palmetto/NS_patient-sawpalmetto
11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/selenium?sitearea=ETO
12. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=ED8AD8E8-6AE5-458D-8091-393F4CB73F0D
13. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-selenium.html
14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9290116
15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829869
16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335455
17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2136228
18. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0r644v4ju5153k2/
19. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/5/283
20. 2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/st-johns-wort
21. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-stjohnswort.html
22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843608
23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939866
24. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/ataglance.htm
25. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm
26. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-is-depression-detected-and-treated.shtml
27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939872
28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12132963
29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16423519
30. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/22/2633