Levothyroxine & Avoiding Products?

SweetGirl55 · 08-08-2009, 05:17 PM

I was reading about Levothyroxine & it said:
Avoid the following food products, which can make your body absorb less levothyroxine: infant soy formula, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and high-fiber foods.
1.What ALL does make your body absorb less levothyroxine mean?
2.Is that bad?
3.Why or Why not?
4.Does it mean that Levothyroxine will be less effective?
5.What are foods that are high in fiber?
I alway's try to eat alot of fiber foods I guess I can't now

6.So should I not than?
7.Why or Why not?

Please Reply Someone

~Traci~ · 08-09-2009, 01:00 AM

I would like to know the same!

I think anything over 5g of fiber is considered "high fiber" (but I could be off on the grams).

hnelson · 08-09-2009, 01:00 AM

Hello, I'm new to this and have been doing some research. I'm not sure I fully understand your questions, but I'll take a crack at them.

There are some foods/meds that decrease absorption of levothyroxine which ultimately makes it less effective (so yes that is bad because the goal is to get more T4 - what levothyroxine is - into your system). i hadn't read about avoiding fiber (but here's a link to give you an idea of the types of foods http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hig...-foods/NU00582). I had read that iron and calcium can reduce absorption and I try to avoid eating foods with these for 4 hours before and after I take the meds. The best way I've found to do this is to put my pill on the night stand when I go to bed and then if I wake in the middle of the night (I frequently do) I take it - sometime between 4 and 7 AM. This reduces the amount of time I have to wait before I can eat a full menu.

Also I found information (in the link below) that some foods interfere with thyroid function in general and I try to avoid these altogether (not just specifically when I take the meds). The foods listed are broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, soybeans, peanuts, linseed, pine nuts, millet, cassava, and mustard greens.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/h...ism-000093.htm

hope this helps. good luck!

ANH_RN · 08-09-2009, 02:37 PM

That's interesting. I hadn't heard that. nelson-- that's what I do. I work nights and I don't got to bed until around 4 or so on my days off. I usually wake up around 9 and take it (like clockwork). I wish we can just take it whenever and not worry about it! What does it mean by high fiber foods? I just had some raisin bran and I'm curious now.

SweetGirl55 · 08-10-2009, 03:38 PM

Why can't u take it whenever? I dont understand
I take it whenever but only if I have a empty stomach cause it says to
take it on a empty stomach for some reason

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANH_RN

That's interesting. I hadn't heard that. nelson-- that's what I do. I work nights and I don't got to bed until around 4 or so on my days off. I usually wake up around 9 and take it (like clockwork). I wish we can just take it whenever and not worry about it! What does it mean by high fiber foods? I just had some raisin bran and I'm curious now.