Technically speaking, T4 is not used the same day you take it, it builds up, thus is called the storage hormone and some is converted to "on use" T3. Only T4 can bind to protein, which then makes it unusable. Protein in stomach will effect T4 strength. The only way to do this successfully is with a near empty stomach.
The higher T3 in pig thyroid t3/t4 ratio vs human, can make us jittery and tired in one big dose. Supplemental T3 does not stay at constant levels in your blood, its a continuous hourly drop till your next dose. T3 can NOT bind to protein, so its always used, unless you have reverse T3, then it might pool and wont be used.
"Retro" Armour pre-2009, NP Thyroid, and Canadian Erfa thyroid are soft enough to melt in your cheek, sublingual, thus the T4 will not come in contact with protein. This is how I am able to take thyroid three times per day, and still eat all day long, provided I rinse out my mouth. Armour and NT need to be chewed up fine, then left in cheek longer to dissolve.
There were even two generic natural thyroids that were awesome like original Armour. FDA does not like natural thyroid and imposed high manufacturing costs on these two companies in 2009, shutting down operations of NDT.
That is why Armour and NT are different after 2009 too- FDA prob thought they would stop, but instead they jumped thru costly FDA "hoops", changed their fillers and remain today , but a harder pill with lower T4 absorption that before.
Now that NDT is gaining popularity, the price is skyrocketing. Canada's ERFA is the cheapest cash price. My ins wont cover any natural thyroid, so I bought from Canada for a few years.
Post Edited (astroman) : 3/29/2018 8:47:59 PM (GMT-6)