Despite the fact that current product labeling and treatment guidelines prescribe that patients take thyroid hormone replacement therapy on an empty stomach, new research suggests that consuming coffee has no effect on levothyroxine absorption in a liquid formulation (LT4).

According to data published today, new study reveals that drinking coffee 5 minutes after taking an oral levothyroxine sodium solution (Thyquidity® 100mg/ 5mL) had no effect on absorption.

This could be excellent news for individuals who have been recommended to take levothyroxine 30-60 minutes before coffee to avoid a medication interaction.

“The lifestyle adjustment required to adhere to these recommendations is often burdensome to the patient and may lead to difficulty in achieving ideal thyroid hormone levels, resulting in both patient and provider frustration,” remarked Kris Washington.

In a bioavailability research involving 40 healthy adults, Washington and colleagues wanted to see how the absorption profile of levothyroxine sodium oral solution provided with coffee compared to fasting settings.

In each experimental period, researchers gave participants a single 600 g oral dosage of LT4 solution 5 minutes before they drank 8 ounces of American coffee (without milk or sugars) or fasted. Blood samples were taken to determine thyroid levels 48 hours after each drug delivery, followed by a 40-day washout interval between research periods.

These findings support the bioequivalence of a single 600 g dosage of levothyroxine sodium oral solution given 5 minutes before coffee or during fasting.

The findings show “that the absorption of levothyroxine sodium oral solution was not affected by the consumption of coffee, potentially offering patients and providers more dosing flexibility,” Washington added.

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