Re: HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE LOSS

[Guest guest]

did you see the about.com newsletter today? I am getting confused. I have what

they say is severe fibermyalgia. Maybe that is why even up to 2 grains, my aches

have not stopped.

HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE LOSS

(AND this article shows how FIBROMYALGIA can be STOPPED with Armour

or natural thyroid!!! p.s. If you respond to this, be sure and

delete what does not pertain to your response....)

Question: I'm a 70-year-old woman. For thirty years, I took

thyroxine [T4] for my hypothyroidism. The whole time, I had

fibromyalgia pain. After reading The Metabolic Treatment of

Fibromyalgia, my doctor changed me to Armour Thyroid, which has both

T4 and T3 in it. He gradually raised my dose high enough to cause a

low TSH. To his amazement and mine, my fibromyalgia pain has been

gone ever since. I've had almost a year now without pain all over my

body. My whole family can't thank you enough for discovering this

cure.

My doctor tested me for osteoporosis before prescribing Armour, and

my bones were fine. He believes in a high protein, so I'm

cooperating with that. I don't mean I'm pigging out on protein, but

I eat more than I used to. He also has me on a high protein diet and

lots of nutritional supplements, including calcium, and I exercise a

lot.

A month ago, I read an article that said a high protein diet may

cause osteoporosis. I told my doctor, and he ordered another bone

density test. It was normal like the first one. He disagreed with

the article and said my high protein diet should protect me from

bone loss. What I want is to protect myself from my low TSH causing

my bones to get thin. That way, I'll be able to keep taking this

dose of Armour that keeps me out of pain. I would appreciate your

opinion. Do you think it's best for me to change to a low protein

diet, like the article advised?

Dr. Lowe: No, I don't, not if your high protein diet is working well

for you. Some studies have shown that a high protein diet increases

calcium loss in the urine.[1][2][3][4] Theoretically, the calcium

loss, if severe enough, can cause bone loss. But studies haven't yet

shown this to be true.[2]

With a qualification I mention below, rather than causing bone loss,

a high protein diet may instead increase the density of your bones.

The reason is that eating large amounts of protein can increase your

body's production of a growth factor called " somatomedin C. " As I

explain in depth in The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia, thyroid

hormone, like a high protein diet, increases the body's production

of somatomedin C. Thyroid hormone does this by increasing growth

hormone production. The increased somatomedin C stimulates bone-

forming cells called " osteoblasts. " The cells' increased activity

then increases the density of bones[3]-assuming that you're

ingesting enough calcium. And that's the qualification I mentioned.

You said you're taking a calcium supplement, but not how much.

Taking enough calcium (see our nutritional recommendations) can

protect you from your high protein diet causing you to lose too much

calcium in your urine. It can also protect you from bone loss. In

one study, for example, patients with a high protein intake also

took calcium citrate and vitamin D. Compared to people taking

placebos, the density of their femoral necks and overall skeleton

was higher. In another study, elderly hip-fracture patients took

both a protein and calcium supplement; as a result, they had less

bone loss.[1]

In short, your calcium and high protein diet, along with your

effective dose of Armour and exercise, guard you from bone loss. On

the other hand, the low protein diet you're considering may be

detrimental to your bones.

In several recent studies, researchers have found reduced bone

density in people who had been on a low protein diet long term.[2]

In one study, when people were on a high protein diet, they absorbed

more of their calcium supplement into their blood; absorption

increased from 18% to 26%.[4] In contrast, when people were on a low

protein diet, they absorbed less calcium.

People in the study absorbed less calcium possibly because their low

protein intake reduced acid secretion in their stomachs. Protein

stimulates the stomach to secrete acid, and a low protein intake

reduces amount of acid secreted. But for calcium to be absorbed from

the small intestine into the blood, stomach acid must first dissolve

it. When too little acid is secreted, less calcium is absorbed. So

most likely, the people's low protein intake reduced their secretion

of acid, and the reduced acid decreased their absorption of calcium.

[2]

The people's reduced absorption of calcium lowered their blood

calcium level. This caused them to secrete more " parathyroid

hormone. " This hormone increases the calcium level in the blood. It

does so in three ways: by increasing absorption of calcium from the

intestine; decreasing loss of calcium in the urine; and pulling

calcium into the blood from bones. This third way, over the long

haul, might reduce the density of bones.[2]

In that a low protein diet might reduce bone density, I agree with

your doctor: you stand a better chance of avoiding bone loss by

continuing your higher protein intake.

http://www.drlowe.com/QandA/askdrlowe/mostrecent.htm#February%208,%

202004

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

this has me confused too. The first part (about the 70 year old woman) says

that her fibromyalgia pain stopped when she converted to armour.

That was what I was hoping for but no luck yet, maybe my dose needs to be higher

which is what I working towards. If I could get rid of these " fibro type "

pains I would feel a whole lot better.

Lynda (in the UK)

HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE LOSS

(AND this article shows how FIBROMYALGIA can be STOPPED with Armour

or natural thyroid!!! p.s. If you respond to this, be sure and

delete what does not pertain to your response....)

Question: I'm a 70-year-old woman. For thirty years, I took

thyroxine [T4] for my hypothyroidism. The whole time, I had

fibromyalgia pain. After reading The Metabolic Treatment of

Fibromyalgia, my doctor changed me to Armour Thyroid, which has both

T4 and T3 in it. He gradually raised my dose high enough to cause a

low TSH. To his amazement and mine, my fibromyalgia pain has been

gone ever since. I've had almost a year now without pain all over my

body. My whole family can't thank you enough for discovering this

cure.

[Guest guest]

Maybe some people really don't have it. Do you want the link for the article I

read?

Re: HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE

LOSS

did you see the about.com newsletter today? I am getting confused. I have

what they say is severe fibermyalgia. Maybe that is why even up to 2 grains, my

aches have not stopped.

[Guest guest]

>I have what they say is severe fibermyalgia. Maybe that is why

even up to 2 grains, my aches have not stopped.

You may need to be a 3 grain gal, someday.

Janie

[Guest guest]

>The first part (about the 70 year old woman) says that her

>fibromyalgia pain stopped when she converted to armour.

> That was what I was hoping for but no luck yet, maybe my dose

>needs to be higher which is what I working towards.

You just hit the nail right on the head.

Janie

[Guest guest]

Jamy

yes please

Lynda

Re: HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE

LOSS

Maybe some people really don't have it. Do you want the link for the article I

read?

[Guest guest]

Maybe! I am due for testing. I added another 30 mg from what he ordered.

Re: HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE

LOSS

>I have what they say is severe fibermyalgia. Maybe that is why

even up to 2 grains, my aches have not stopped.

You may need to be a 3 grain gal, someday.

Janie

[Guest guest]

I still don't see how they can give a diagnosis of fibro/cfs based on those

symtoms alone. They cross over with so many other things including

hypothyroidism.

In my case they didn't even test for the so-called tender points, it was a case

of all blood tests that they did showing nothing wrong, so it must be cfs/fms

If they cared to press on ANY part of my body it would be tender. I am still

pinning my hopes on the increased armour.

Lynda (in the UK)

Re: HIGHER PROTEIN DIET helps AVOID BONE

LOSS

did you see the about.com newsletter today? I am getting confused. I have what

they say is severe fibermyalgia. Maybe that is why even up to 2 grains, my aches

have not stopped.