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science nutrition blog

science nutrition <strong>blog</strong>

Some bodybuilders take thyroid hormone (T3) to increase metabolic rate and promote weight loss. A Brazilian study on rats suggests that using thyroid hormone to lose weight is a bad idea. Researchers gave high levels of T3 to normal, obese, and obese rats on calorie-restricted diets. In each instance, administering the hormone caused toxicity in the genes and generated free radicals— highly reactive substances that cause cell and DNA damage. T3 also triggered insulin resistance. Taking abnormally high amounts of thyroid hormone can damage your health. (PLoS One, 8(2): e56913)