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Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:53 pm  |
I get emails from my dr and thought I'd share this latest one with everyone here.
December 23, 2010
Dear Patients,
Almost weekly, we hear about new viruses and health threats and ever year there is talk of new diseases and potential pandemics. In the midst of all that concern and chaos, we seek to protect ourselves with flu shots and vitamins, disinfectants and other antiseptic products such as common, over-the-counter antibacterial soap.
Unfortunately, some of the properties in the antibacterial soap are as dangerous as any of the viruses and bacteria we’re trying to eradicate.
Todd K---- is a man unaccustomed to bouts of fatigue or utter exhaustion. A retired police officer, he suffered from a bacterial infection on his leg. Routinely, Todd used an antibacterial soap to keep the skin clean and protected. At the same time, he began finding himself completely exhausted by mid-afternoon, too tired to do anything.
Naturally alarmed, Todd turned to (this dr's office) for a physical exam. I ran blood tests and discovered that Todd’s thyroid was under-producing hormones, a problem known as hypothyroidism, most often attributed to an autoimmune disease. Thyroid hormones work throughout the human body impacting every organ, cell and tissue. They control the body’s temperature, metabolism, heart rate, muscle strength and energy levels among other key functions.
Immediately upon discovering Todd’s problem, we placed him on thyroid medication to compensate for his lagging natural thyroid production. The medication helped and Todd began feeling better and experiencing less fatigue and exhaustion.
While scanning articles on the Internet, Todd ran across a piece on Triclosan, a chemical used in antibacterial products. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a risk both environmentally and to human health. A chlorophenol—an organic compound that is toxic—Triclosan is believed to be a cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to birth defects, abnormal weight loss, unrestrained cell growth, damage to both the immune system and the thyroid.
Todd immediately checked the ingredients on the antibacterial soap he used on his leg and found much to his chargrin that it contained Triclosan. He immediately alerted our office.
Once he was no longer using the soap, but still taking the thyroid medication, Todd’s thyroid began to recover more quickly and within four months, we took Todd off of the medication.
Todd K---’s medical problem is not, unfortunately, uncommon. Since becoming aware of this we have found several patients with hypothyroidism, that was likely initiated by using an antibacterial soap with triclosan. As resilient and adaptable as is the human body, there are natural and man-made threats that can devastate the health of even the most active and health-conscious person. |
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girllee
New Member
 
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
Posts: 3
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Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:13 pm |
| Thanks for the heads up, MyBestFriend. As a germaphobe, I appreciate this! |
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Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:22 pm |
Before sending out this alarming e-mail to patients, your doctor should have consulted valid medical studies on Triclosan. Here is just one example:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2798550/?tool=pubmed
BTW, correlation is not cause. |
_________________
Born 1953; Blonde-Blue; Normal skin |
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Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:01 am |
| I understand, Lacy53, but it is curious that when the guy stopped using the Triclosan soap, he was also able to get off the thyroid med. There *must* be something to it, at least in his case. |
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Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:23 am |
| I just now took the time to read the study you posted, Lacy, and if I'm reading it correctly, it only involved 6 people, not enough people to be considered a valid study. Also, only one application of a 2% Triclosan cream that was left on the skin for 12 hours. Granted, the cream was applied to the entire body. But, the patient that my doctor was referring to was using an antibacterial soap containing Triclosan, not a cream. Although the email doesn't mention how often he used the soap, I'm thinking he probably used it daily. We also don't know how long he used it....weeks or even months. Also, your study determined that the dose of Triclosan absorbed by their bodies was less than 10% based on how much was excreted in the 6 people's urine. I don't see any mention in your study of blood tests for changes in thyroid hormone levels which is what affected my doctor's patient, Todd K. Your study, in effect, is saying that Triclosan is safe because less than 10% of it is absorbed by the skin. My doctor is saying that using Triclosan can, and in Todd K's case did cause a change in the level of Thyroid hormone which resulted in his extreme fatigue. |
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Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:32 am |
est Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Dec;23(6):801-13.
Environmental pollutants and the thyroid.
Pearce EN, Braverman LE.
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University Medical Center, 88 East Newton street, Evans 201, Boston, MA 02118, USA. elizabeth.pearce@bmc.org
Abstract
Common environmental exposures may affect thyroid function in humans. Foetuses and infants are most vulnerable to these effects because they need thyroid hormone for normal neurodevelopment. Perchlorate, thiocyanate and nitrate are all competitive inhibitors of the sodium/iodine symporter (NIS) in pharmacologic doses, but their effects on human thyroid function at environmental exposure levels remain unclear. Many compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), bisphenol-A (BPA) and triclosan, may have direct actions on the thyroid hormone receptor, but these effects are complex and are not yet well understood. Isoflavones inhibit thyroperoxidase (TPO) activity, and, therefore, may cause goitre and hypothyroidism if ingested at high levels, particularly in iodine-deficient individuals. Organochlorine pesticides and dioxins may decrease serum T(4) half-life by activating hepatic enzymes. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate the risk posed by these and other potentially thyroid-disrupting compounds. |
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Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:37 am |
Toxicol Sci. 2009 Jan;107(1):56-64. Epub 2008 Oct 21.
The effects of triclosan on puberty and thyroid hormones in male Wistar rats.
Zorrilla LM, Gibson EK, Jeffay SC, Crofton KM, Setzer WR, Cooper RL, Stoker TE.
Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA.
Abstract
Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is a potent antibacterial and antifungal compound that is widely used in personal care products, plastics, and fabrics. Recently triclosan has been shown to alter endocrine function in a variety of species. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of triclosan on pubertal development and thyroid hormone concentrations in the male rat. Weanling rats were exposed to 0, 3, 30, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of triclosan by oral gavage from postnatal day (PND) 23 to 53. Preputial separation (PPS) was examined beginning on PND 33. Rats were killed on PND 53, organ weights were recorded and serum was collected for subsequent analysis. Triclosan did not affect growth or the onset of PPS. Serum testosterone was significantly decreased at 200 mg/kg, however no effects were observed on androgen-dependent reproductive tissue weights. Triclosan significantly decreased total serum thyroxine (T4) in a dose-dependent manner at 30 mg/kg and higher (no observed effect level of 3 mg/kg). Triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly decreased only at 200 mg/kg, but thyroid stimulating hormone was not statistically different at any dose. Liver weights were significantly increased at 100 mg/kg triclosan and above suggesting that the induction of hepatic enzymes may have contributed to the altered T4 and T3 concentrations, but it does not appear to correlate with the T4 dose-response. This study demonstrates that triclosan exposure does not alter androgen-dependent tissue weights or onset of PPS; however, triclosan exposure significantly impacts thyroid hormone concentrations in the male juvenile rat. |
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Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:00 am |
| As you can see, Lacy, my 2 studies actually looked at the effect of Triclosan on the thyroid gland whereas your study only showed that up to 10% of triclosan is absorbed by the body and did not even address the effects of the Triclosan that is absorbed. |
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