[Modification of thyroid hormones by unsaturated fatty acid after noradrenaline load]

In 13 patients with a hyperlipoproteinaemia of type IIa under a diet fat-modified and rich in linoic acid which contained only few animal fats and cholesterol the long-term behaviour of T3 and T4 was determined. After 7 months significant reductions of the T3- as well as increases of the T4-concentrations in the blood were found, in which cases the physiological regions were neither transgressed nor subgressed. These results correspond to the results given in literature, established, however, in animal experiments. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed, in which cases above all peripheral sites of action by influence on the fluidity and function of cell membranes and cell organelle membranes might be taken into consideration. This assumption could also be supported by the results of pharmacological stress loads.