# Study links Levothyroxine to bone density loss

**URL:** <https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010>\
**Category:** Medicines\
**Tags:** thyroid\
**Created:** [November 27, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010 "2024-11-27T14:05:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CarlosLuis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/carlosluis/32/11389_2.png) [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010/1 "2024-11-27T14:05:37Z")

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Hypothyroidism is common to people with diabetes mellitus. I have been on Levothyroxine for about 15 years and the dose has increased over the years. I am not running around saying, “the sky is falling.” As this is one study, but it is something to keep a weather eye on.

> **[Common Thyroid Medicine Linked to Bone Loss](https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?ID=2538)**

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010/2 "2024-11-27T16:51:12Z")

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Thanks for sharing.

Since they used a observational cohort study, it does not prove any causality. So it’s something to keep an eye on, but it does not necessarily mean that the thyroid meds are doing anything bad.

For example, it _could_ be that people who are prone to hypothyroidism (the ones who would be taking the medication) are also more prone to bone loss.

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Here is a study that says levothyroxine is okay, as long as doses are tailored correctly. But since this study is 10 years old, and did not raise any alarms, nobody is going to talk about it.

> …treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism does not affect the bones, as long as levothyroxine doses are tailored to keep a normal TSH level.

> **[Vol 15 Issue 11 p.3-4 | American Thyroid Association](https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/november-2022/vol-15-issue-11-p-3-4/)**
>
> High levels of thyroid hormone (either from having an overactive thyroid or from taking too much thyroid hormone) cause increased bone turnover leading to bone loss and a decrease in bone density. Thyroid hormone therapy treating overt hypothyroidism...

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As a personal note, for what it is worth, I do not take levothyroxine. I take Armour Thyroid.

The difference is that levothyroxine is synthetic, and Armour Thyroid is a natural thyroid hormone derived from animal thyroid glands. 😮

And I also take a lot of calcium and vitamin D as a precaution.

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**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010/3 "2024-11-28T20:46:36Z")

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> [@Eric](#):
>
> I do not take levothyroxine. I take Armour Thyroid.
> 
> The difference is that levothyroxine is synthetic, and Armour Thyroid is a natural thyroid hormone

So do you use pork insulin as well? 😄

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/study-links-levothyroxine-to-bone-density-loss/15010/4 "2024-11-28T21:38:15Z")

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> [@Beacher](#):
>
> So do you use pork insulin as well?

I did for many years! Pork or beef, whatever they had.

I used it from '73 to '82.