Posted on 11/04/2003 7:40:52 PM PST by Peelod
from Thyroid Australia, Ltd website:
"It is well known that thyroid hormone levels have an impact on the rate of metabolism and body weight. Low levels of thyroid hormone are associated with weight gain and increased levels of cholesterol and lipoproteins. High levels of thyroid hormone are associated with weight loss and low levels of cholesterol and lipoproteins.
Increasing thyroid hormone levels would therefore seem like an easy method for increasing the metabolism and losing weight. Unfortunately life is not as simple as this. The stimulation of the metabolism also extends to stimulation of the heart. Thyroid hormone causes the heart to beat faster and more strongly. As a result, people with excess levels of thyroid hormone normally experience a racing heart beat (tachycardia) and palpitations. Sustained stimulation of the heart in this way can cause lasting damage.
Thyroid hormone is consequently not recommended for weight loss.
Research just published by the National Academy of Science 1is therefore very interesting. Gary Grover and a group of other researchers associated with Bristol-Myers Squibb set out to determine whether it was possible to stimulate the metabolism and thereby reduce body weight, cholesterol and lipoproteins without stimulating the heart. Their approach was to exploit one of the subtle elements of thyroid hormone action. ...."
More at www.thyroid.org.au/Information/KB141.html
(Excerpt) Read more at thyroid.org.au ...
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