Your thyroid is a large endocrine gland that helps regulate your body's energy use, synthesizes various proteins and governs your body's response to hormones. Thyroid diseases, such as thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, affect your thyroid's ability to perform its usual tasks or functions; they are particularly common among women. If you are considering using dietary supplements to help treat your thyroid disease, review the risks, procedures and alternatives with your family physician.
Thyroid Disease Information
There are many tests that your doctor can order to help diagnose your thyroid disease, states the National Women's Health Information Center, including a blood test, radioactive iodine uptake test, thyroid scan, thyroid fine needle biopsy and thyroid ultrasound. In most cases, your thyroid disease will cause either a low-functioning thyroid gland or an overactive thyroid gland. A low-functioning thyroid gland, known as hypothyroidism, occurs when your thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone. An overactive thyroid gland occurs when your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone.
Helpful Dietary Supplements
Many dietary supplements may be helpful in treating your thyroid disease. Naturopathic physician Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr., author of "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine," states that commonly used supplements in treating an underactive thyroid gland include zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, copper, selenium, riboflavin, niacin, mugwort, black cohosh and pyridoxine. Helpful supplements in treating an overactive thyroid gland, notes Pizzorno, may include zinc, iodine, calcium and vitamins A, C and E.
Featured Supplement
Vitamin A may be a helpful dietary supplement in treating your thyroid disease. Pizzorno notes that large amounts of vitamin A may aid thyroid hormone metabolism and help ameliorate the symptoms of Graves' disease -- the most common form of hyperthyroidism. Vitamin A may also work in combination with vitamin E and zinc to help manufacture thyroid hormone, which is helpful if you suffer from hypothyroidism.
Considerations
Thyroid disease is a health condition that should always be managed by a licensed health care provider. If left untreated, your thyroid disease may cause unwanted health symptoms and significantly reduced quality of life. Before using dietary supplements -- a natural health approach -- to treat your thyroid disease, discuss the proper dosage and treatment duration, possible side effects and potential drug interactions with your primary care provider. Some nutritional supplements may not be appropriate for you or your condition.
References
- MedlinePlus: Thyroid Diseases
- National Women's Health Information Center: Thyroid Disease
- "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph Pizzorno; 2002
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; Feb. 8, 2011
