I’ve been doing some research recently and have discovered that thyroid hormones such as T3 and T4 can be leveraged for height growth in regular children the same way it’s leveraged for children with hypothyroidism. However, it’s highly dangerous and is the only thing that I would never recommend anyone to do if they wanted to increase height growth.
Studies have suggested that low levels of thyroid hormones may lead to decreased growth hormone secretion (seen in children with hypothyroidism) , while high levels of thyroid hormones may increase growth hormone secretion (seen in children with hyperthyroidism).
However, the connection between the both of them isn’t well understood, however, it is known that hyperthyroidism causes increased growth rates and earlier growth plate closure (Don’t get scared yet). For example, in a study done with 31 adolescent girls with hyperthyroidism, it was found that 22 of the 31 girls grew to an adult stature higher than their predicted height. And three of the remaining nine were within 1 cm of their predicted height. HOWEVER, T4 replacement therapy in children with hypothyroidism has been shown to induce rapid catch-up growth but possibly lower predicted adult height because it rapidly advances bone age and causes earlier physical fusion. Children with hyperthyroidism may experience premature growth plate closure and possibly short stature from having such an active thyroid. However, most children with hyperthyroidism experience premature growth plate closure, rather than short stature due to increased growth hormone. Growth plate closure from hyperthyroidism is caused by the fact that having an overactive thyroid increases SHBG and total testosterone. High SHBG is associated with high estradiol levels and high test levels lead to high estradiol levels causing premature growth plate closure.
To use T4 and T3 to increase height growth, it’s pretty simple. Use low doses of T4 with an Aromatase inhibitor and your height growth will surely increase. Luckily, we already have a study showing that this solution will work. In a case report done on a 12-year-old with hypothyroidism, it was shown that anastrozole was highly effective in delaying epiphyseal fusion after the child’s bone age was severely advanced after experiencing rapid catch up growth due to T4 supplementation and skeletal maturation. Originally, the 12-year-old boy with hypothyroidism had a bone age of six years old and was only growing about an inch a year. They decided to put this boy onto T4 because of this, and after two years, at 14 years old and 2 months, he had a bone age of 13 years old. His growth rate skyrocketed quickly to 9.9cm a year, however, the rapid bone age advancement was concerning, so they decided to put him on 1 mg of Anastrozole a day, to delay epiphyseal fusion. Shockingly, at 15 years old and 9 months, his bone age was only 13 years old and 6 months. And then at 16 years old and 5 months, his bone age was only 14 years old and 6 months. However, this was caused because they increased this boy’s T4 dose even more. They eventually took this child off anastrozole, so in three years, his bone age advanced only 1.5 years, despite increased T4 doses.
We can learn that low doses of T4 ( very low doses but effective enough to increase IGF-1 levels, and chondrocyte proliferation) have the potential to induce growth due to the fact that it rapidly increases all bodily functions and growth potential can be maximized if used with an Aromatase inhibitor like Anastrozole, Aromasin, Or Letrozole since it’ll slow down the rapid skeletal growth and maturation.
There is a long list of safety concerns when using T4 and T3 in people with normally functioning thyroids. Hyperthyroidism comes with a long line of health concerns, and taking too much of T4 in one sitting can be a direct ticket to death.
It’s best to take 50-100 mcg (max) of oral t4. If doing this, I recommend doing something like this with doctor supervision because your thyroids need an even ratio for the most part.
DISCLAIMER: I need to do more research on the dosages of T3 and T4, but I’d assume taking dosages underneath the dosages described for mild hypothyroidism could be effective. Please do not take anything I say, as advice as death could happen. If using T3/T4, do it with supervision with someone more knowledgeable or use dosages based on bloodwork first.
How does T4 and T3 affect body growth and IGF-1 levels?
Studies have suggested that low levels of thyroid hormones may lead to decreased growth hormone secretion (seen in children with hypothyroidism) , while high levels of thyroid hormones may increase growth hormone secretion (seen in children with hyperthyroidism).
However, the connection between the both of them isn’t well understood, however, it is known that hyperthyroidism causes increased growth rates and earlier growth plate closure (Don’t get scared yet). For example, in a study done with 31 adolescent girls with hyperthyroidism, it was found that 22 of the 31 girls grew to an adult stature higher than their predicted height. And three of the remaining nine were within 1 cm of their predicted height. HOWEVER, T4 replacement therapy in children with hypothyroidism has been shown to induce rapid catch-up growth but possibly lower predicted adult height because it rapidly advances bone age and causes earlier physical fusion. Children with hyperthyroidism may experience premature growth plate closure and possibly short stature from having such an active thyroid. However, most children with hyperthyroidism experience premature growth plate closure, rather than short stature due to increased growth hormone. Growth plate closure from hyperthyroidism is caused by the fact that having an overactive thyroid increases SHBG and total testosterone. High SHBG is associated with high estradiol levels and high test levels lead to high estradiol levels causing premature growth plate closure.
How can we use T4 and T3 to increase height growth?
To use T4 and T3 to increase height growth, it’s pretty simple. Use low doses of T4 with an Aromatase inhibitor and your height growth will surely increase. Luckily, we already have a study showing that this solution will work. In a case report done on a 12-year-old with hypothyroidism, it was shown that anastrozole was highly effective in delaying epiphyseal fusion after the child’s bone age was severely advanced after experiencing rapid catch up growth due to T4 supplementation and skeletal maturation. Originally, the 12-year-old boy with hypothyroidism had a bone age of six years old and was only growing about an inch a year. They decided to put this boy onto T4 because of this, and after two years, at 14 years old and 2 months, he had a bone age of 13 years old. His growth rate skyrocketed quickly to 9.9cm a year, however, the rapid bone age advancement was concerning, so they decided to put him on 1 mg of Anastrozole a day, to delay epiphyseal fusion. Shockingly, at 15 years old and 9 months, his bone age was only 13 years old and 6 months. And then at 16 years old and 5 months, his bone age was only 14 years old and 6 months. However, this was caused because they increased this boy’s T4 dose even more. They eventually took this child off anastrozole, so in three years, his bone age advanced only 1.5 years, despite increased T4 doses.
So what can we learn from this study to increase growth?
We can learn that low doses of T4 ( very low doses but effective enough to increase IGF-1 levels, and chondrocyte proliferation) have the potential to induce growth due to the fact that it rapidly increases all bodily functions and growth potential can be maximized if used with an Aromatase inhibitor like Anastrozole, Aromasin, Or Letrozole since it’ll slow down the rapid skeletal growth and maturation.
Safety concerns
There is a long list of safety concerns when using T4 and T3 in people with normally functioning thyroids. Hyperthyroidism comes with a long line of health concerns, and taking too much of T4 in one sitting can be a direct ticket to death.
It’s best to take 50-100 mcg (max) of oral t4. If doing this, I recommend doing something like this with doctor supervision because your thyroids need an even ratio for the most part.
DISCLAIMER: I need to do more research on the dosages of T3 and T4, but I’d assume taking dosages underneath the dosages described for mild hypothyroidism could be effective. Please do not take anything I say, as advice as death could happen. If using T3/T4, do it with supervision with someone more knowledgeable or use dosages based on bloodwork first.
