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A member asked:
Any reason why can thyroxine be taken orally, but insulin can't?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Insulin is digested: Thyroxine is a small molecule similar to an aminoacid and it gets absorbed intact from the gut. When circulating it then behaves like naturally produced thyroxine. Insulin is a protein digested/broken down into dipeptides and aminoacids. Obviously once broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream it no longer exists as the intact molecule which is needed for its hormonal function.
Answered 6/25/2014
4.2k views
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