Q: Thyronorm is a synthetic product. Is there any natural thyroxine alternative available for treatment of hypothyroidism?

A:Technically, thyroxine can be synthesized as well as derived from domestic animals. The ultimate product is bio-equivalent i.e. equal in efficacy and safety. It is always better to use synthesized pharmacological agent rather than use animal-sourced products due to the possibility of transmission of known and hitherto unknown disorders. In recent years, animal-origin insulin has been totally replaced with recombinant DNA technology and synthesized chemically.