Your thyroid gland is located in the throat behind the larynx. This gland controls metabolism, which is the production of energy. Your thyroid secretes hormones such as thyroxine to regulate metabolism. Reduced thyroid function is termed hypothyroidism and can result in fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold and depression, according to MayoClinic.com. Your thyroid needs certain nutrients to function normally. Supplements are an efficient way to ingest them.
Iodine
Iodine is a crucial nutrient for the thyroid. Lack of it leads to goiter, or swelling of the thyroid, and profound metabolic dysfunction. Iodine is the main element within two primary thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The thyroid gland absorbs iodide from the bloodstream to make and release these hormones, although these actions are regulated by the pituitary gland. Some iodine is essential, but ingesting too much can cause sickness and symptoms. Unfortunately, testing for iodine levels in the body is not very reliable, so thyroid specialists often suggest consuming about 150mcg daily for adults -- well below levels that cause negative reactions, as cited in "Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Metabolism." Sources of iodine include iodized table salt, liquid iodine, such as Lugol's solution, and kelp.
Selenium
For normal thyroid function, iodine is dependent on the mineral selenium. A group of selenium-dependent enzymes converts thyroxine to triiodothyronine, which is the biologically active hormone in the thyroid. Selenium is also crucial for the initial production of thyroxine. Approximately 200mcg daily of selenium is often recommended by thyroid specialists.
Zinc
Zinc is another essential mineral needed for normal thyroid function. A lack of zinc reduces the activity of thyroid-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus, which eventually depresses thyroid hormone levels. Zinc also participates in the conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine and is needed to bind triiodothyronine to the DNA within cells. At least 10mg zinc daily is recommended for thyroid dysfunction.
Iron
When instructions reach a cell's DNA via triiodothyronine, iron is needed to signal the genes that are responsible for setting the metabolic pace of the cell's activities. Low iron also reduces hemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen in the blood, which is needed to power the cell's activities. A lack of iron can eventually lead to thyroid dysfunction, although short-term effects of iron deficiency, such as fatigue and muscle weakness, can initially mimic hypothyroidism, as noted by University of Maryland Medical Center.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is necessary for thyroid hormone production and possibly for triiodothyronine binding to its receptors in cells. A lack of vitamin D is associated with lower levels of thyroxine. Dysfunction of the thyroid gland is more pronounced in winter, when a lack of sunshine leads to higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency, as cited in "Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health." At least 800 IU of vitamin D daily is now being recommended.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Hypothyroidism Symptoms
- "Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Metabolism"; Carolyn D. Berdanier; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Iron Deficiency Symptoms
- "Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health"; G. Combs; 2008
