An estimated 20 million Americans have trouble with their thyroid glands. Doctors have become accustomed to making the diagnosis of hypothyroidism based on a single blood test. Often they prescribe just one medication for treating thyroid disease. But does that work equally well for everyone?

New research shows that some people have a gene variant that makes their bodies less efficient at converting the circulating hormone levothyroxine (T4) into the active hormone triiodothyronine (T3). As a result, the usual treatment may not be completely effective at helping them overcome their symptoms. Find out what else they might need for treating thyroid disease.

When and how you take your thyroid medicine can affect how well it works. Did you know that coffee can interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine? Soy products may also pose problems. Find out the best ways for thyroid patients to work with their doctors in treating thyroid disease.

Antonio Bianco, MD, PhD, is the Charles Arthur Weaver Professor of Cancer Research in the Department of Internal Medicine. He is the president of Rush University Medical Group and vice dean for clinical affairs in Rush Medical College. Dr. Bianco’s research focuses on understanding the deiodinase enzymes D1, D2 and D3 and their effect on thyroid hormone action. He was co-author of a Seminar paper on hypothyroidism published in The Lancet, March 20, 2017. Here are some links explaining his research:

https://www.rush.edu/news/far-reaching-thyroid-expertise

https://www.rush.edu/news/press-releases/hypothyroidism-symptoms-linger-despite-medication-use-normal-blood-tests

https://www.rush.edu/news/press-releases/rush-researchers-gain-new-insights-treatment-hypothyroidism

https://web.archive.org/web/20170117193145/https://rushinperson.rush.edu/2017/01/16/lingering-hypothyroid-symptoms-not-in-their-heads/

You can listen to Dr. Bianco’s extended interview:

Patient advocate and author Mary Shomon transformed her 1995 thyroid diagnosis into a mission to educate and empower others struggling with thyroid and hormonal conditions. She is a nationally-known patient advocate and activist, and founder of Thyroid-Info.com. She is the author of New York Times bestseller The Thyroid Diet Revolution: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss and a number of other books on thyroid disease, hormone health, and weight loss. Her most recent book, written with Dana Trentini, is Your Healthy Pregnancy with Thyroid Disease.

Mary is a leading force on hormonal and thyroid health in social media, with her hundreds of thousands of community members at: Thyroid Support/Facebook, with Mary Shomon Thyroid Diet/Facebook, with Mary Shomon Twitter: @thyroidmary

The photo is of Mary Shomon.

You can listen to Mary Shomon’s extended interview:

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