Thyroid Drug Thyroxin Increases Fracture Risk

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According to a report in the British Medical Journal*, a popular thyroid drug, thyroxin, increased the risk of fractures in elderly patients in a dose-related manner. Meaning, the more the patient takes, the greater the risk of broken bones!

The study on thyroxin was conducted using Ontario's prescription database among 200,000 adults. Their mean age was 82, so it included those somewhat below and somewhat above 82.

"Current and recent thyroxine use (within the past six months) were both associated with an increase risk of fracture," noted Journal Watch, a publication written and read widely by physicians and dated May 12, 2011.

Editor's note: Considering the risk of bone fracture, it would seem prudent to prescribe a non-toxic natural formula for under-active thyroid, thyroxine's target audience. No such luck!

It might be noted that the prime cause of under-active thyroid, hypothyroidism, is a dietary shortage of iodine. An easy way to combat this is to take KELP (seaweed) pills. One might additionally consider a modest amount of zinc and selenium, both of which are helpful to thyroid health.

The above is just a thought, not a prescription. One may suggest these to one's own physician.

*2011, British Medical Journal vol 342.