Nineteenth-Century Homeopathic Materia Medica Texts Predict Source Materials Whose Physiological Actions Influence Thyroid Activity.

INTRODUCTION: The homeopathic materia medica contains hundreds of thousands of observations collected over the course of two centuries. It includes both clinical observations of potentized medicines and observations of the actions of potentized medicines on healthy subjects (provings). This current study was undertaken to determine the degree to which observations within the materia medica were associated with the physiological mechanisms for thyroid activity-inhibiting substances in their undiluted state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four specific symptoms for iodine deficiency were selected to describe the hypothyroid state: (1) generalized aggravation by or sensitivity to cold; (2) chronic painless hoarseness; (3) goiter; (4) painless diffuse non-scarring alopecia. Symptom representation for the four selected symptoms within the homeopathic materia medica was compared for 2 halogen inhibitors, for 3 substances that influence thyroid hormone target tissues, for 6 substances known or suspected to increase thyroid-stimulating hormone or decrease thyroid hormone levels, and for 11 substances not known to inhibit thyroid activity. To avoid knowledge bias, only those compilations of materia medica whose publication dates preceded the discoveries of crucial aspects of thyroid physiology were used as source materials for investigation. RESULTS: Homeopathic medicines derived from 11 substances with mechanisms for inhibition of thyroid activity were more likely to exhibit selected symptoms than the medicines derived from the 11 substances without known physiological mechanisms for thyroid activity inhibition. The difference between groups was analyzed via the Mann-Whitney non-parametric U test and was statistically significant to p < 0.01. After observations obtained from provings alone were removed from analysis, the difference remained significant to p < 0.01. Only the two halogen inhibitors of iodine (bromine and fluoric acid) and one of the influencers of thyroid hormone target tissue (calcium carbonate) were significantly goitrogenic. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to thyroid activity inhibition, there is a statistically significant association between observations recorded within the homeopathic materia medica and the expected physiological mechanisms for the corresponding undiluted substances.

Homeopathic products, not as innocent and safe as they seem? A case report.

Although homeopathic and other alternative products are very popular and are supposed to be safe and harmless they are not free of risks. We present the case of a 29-year-old woman who had to be treated for a state of extreme agitation after using speed, alcohol and homeopathic slimming droplets (LOCO X112). Toxicological analysis of these droplets revealed the presence of thyroid extract and diethylpropione, an amphetamine-like noradrenergic anorectic agent banned in Belgium. This case among other reports in the literature proves that homeopathic products are not as safe and harmless as they seem. Medical professionals as well as the public should be aware of this.

Some extrathyroid regulatory mechanisms' aspects in thyroid humoral state at the delivery.

Thyroid function parameters (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, reverse triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroglobulin) and thyroid binding globulin (TBG) were determined in sera of 64 women who had carried a normal pregnancy and delivered at term, as well as in sera of their newborns. Obtained results were compared to the findings of the same parameters in 28 women who delivered at term, but had been receiving gestanges 1 to 5 months prior to the delivery, and in their babies. In both groups, serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels were normal both in mothers and in their babies. Foetal serum reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) levels were higher (1.58 +/- 0.14, means +/- SEM) as compared to serum levels (0.36 +/- 0.04) of the mothers treated with gestagens; similar results were obtained in the mothers with normal pregnancy (0.41 +/- 0.03) and their babies (1.65 +/- 0.15, means +/- SEM). In 13 out of 64 (20%) women with normal pregnancy serum thyroxine (T4) was elevated in delivery at term, with no impact on the clinical course. Of 28 women who were treated with gestagens for 1 to 5 months only 4 had elevated serum T4 on the delivery. Using gestagens, according to our results, contributes to an increase of the newborn TBG levels (27.00 +/- 2.65; means +/- SEM) in a significant way (p less than 1.001) as compared to TBG of the newborn delivered after a normal pregnancy (21.40 +/- 2.55).

A comparative study on the effects of a contraceptive vaginal ring NuvaRing and an oral contraceptive on carbohydrate metabolism and adrenal and thyroid function.

OBJECTIVES: To compare carbohydrate metabolism, adrenal and thyroid function during use of a combined contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands) with those of a combined oral contraceptive. METHODS: Healthy women aged 18-40 years used either the vaginal ring, delivering 15 microg ethinylestradiol and 120 microg of etonogestrel per day, or a combined oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 150 microg levonorgestrel, for six cycles. Each cycle comprised 3 weeks of use of the ring or the pill followed by 1 ring- or pill-free week. The following parameters were measured at baseline and at the end of cycles 3 and 6: carbohydrate metabolism (glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin); adrenal function (total cortisol, cortisol binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate); thyroid function (thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine). RESULTS: Small and similar increases in insulin were seen in both groups. Concentrations of cortisol binding globulin and total cortisol rose significantly less during ring use than during combined oral contraceptive use (cycle 3, p= 0.0002; cycle 6, p < 0.0001). Levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate did not change in either group. Thyroid stimulating hormone levels increased significantly more in the ring group at cycle 3 (p = 0.0016) but free thyroxine levels were unchanged in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both the vaginal ring and the oral contraceptive have no clinically relevant effects on carbohydrate metabolism, adrenal or thyroid function.