Women's Health Promotion Unit

-- Name withheld

Your query about the thyroid gland is an important one because of the high prevalence of diseases of this gland, especially among women. The most common is hypothyroidism which means a reduced production of thyroxine, and a set of metabolic symptoms that are fairly predictable. In that situation the thyroxine levels are low, and the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels are elevated.

However, hyperthyroidism is less common, and is associated with elevated levels of thyroxine in the blood, and low TSH values. The set of symptoms that usually go with hyperthyroidism include a fast heart rate, weight loss, excessive perspiation, difficulty sleeping, jitteryness, boundless energy, and if tested, a high metabolic rate. Also, some individuals have a prominent protrusion of the eyeballs. This particular condition is called Graves Disease. Review of recent and previous photographs often are good evidence for this subtle change, if present. To have a blood test that is borderline elevated means that it is above the average value of a population of individuals, sugesting the overactive gland. If the test value is consistient with the history of the above findings, a physician will usually diagnose the condition. A test may need to be repeated if the tell-tale symptoms are not present.

I reviewed some recent literature in PubMed about whether diet can be the cause of hyperthyroidism, and I found little to suggest this mechanism. A genetic mechanism is known to exist, but recent efforts to find a gene associated with the condition that is inherited in families has been unsuccessful. It is called a 'multifactorial' type of inheritance, meaning a number of unspecified factors work together to produce the condition. It is like diabetes in this respect. The conventional wisdom of medicine is that individuals with the right factors present in their body may activate the hyperthyroid condition under circumstances of stress, usually extreme stress.

I hope that this information is helpful for you, and Good Health!

LeRoy Heinrichs, MD

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