Breaking through thyroid health pseudoscience: Sorting disinformation from fact

In this episode of The Good GP, host Dr Maria Li welcomes Dr Katherine Wyld, a Queensland-based endocrinologist, for the first installment of a three-part hormones series addressing health misinformation in endocrinology. The episode focuses on thyroid and thyroid hormone-related pseudoscience, which is increasingly prevalent in social media and online health discussions.

Dr Wyld shares her experiences from clinical practice, and the most common misinformation trends, including:

• The use of thyroid extracts, supplements, and compounded thyroid treatments marketed as “natural” alternatives to standard therapy.
• The popularity of reverse T3 testing as a perceived superior diagnostic, despite a lack of supporting clinical evidence.
• The rise of restrictive diets (such as gluten-free and lactose-free) claimed to improve thyroid health without population-level evidence.
• The use of urine iodine level assessment in individual diagnosis, its limitations, and when it may or may not be appropriate.

Explaining why thyroxine (T4) remains the gold standard treatment for hypothyroidism, emphasising its safety, efficacy, and consistent dosing. 

Dr Wyld covers strategies for GPs when responding to patient requests for non-evidence-based tests and treatments. Providing practical advice on how to educate patients, maintain rapport, while reinforcing the value of evidence-based care. As well as when to consider referral to an endocrinologist for complex cases.

Links & Resources: 

• American Thyroid Association - https://www.thyroid.org/
• Thyroid test (including reverse T3) patient information sheet - https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests/
• ESA position statement on thyroid extracts / desiccated thyroid - https://www.endocrinesociety.org.au/downloads/20200903%20ESA_Position_Statement_Natural_Desiccated_Thyroid_Peter_R_Ebeling.pdf

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