Evening primrose is a medicinal plant native to the United States. Historically, it has been used for upset stomach and respiratory infections. Today, it is commonly used for menopausal symptoms. Evening primrose may increase your thyroid hormones, but it is important to consult your doctor prior to taking it, if you are prescribed thyroxine, which is a hormone prescribed to treat hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function.
Thyroid Function
Your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your throat, produces two primary hormones: thyroxine and triiodothyronine, also known as T4 and T3, respectively. These hormones play an important role in your metabolic health. If your thyroid fails to produce enough hormone, your doctor may recommend thyroxine, which will replace what your thyroid is not producing. Thyroxine is commonly used instead of triiodothyronine because your body can convert thyroxine to triiodothyronine, which is the more active thyroid hormone.
Primrose Active Chemicals
Linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid are the primary active substances in evening primrose. Both substances are part of a group of fatty acids known as omega-6. Gamma-linolenic acid is known to reduce inflammation, which is beneficial if you have hypothyroidism, since the most common cause is an autoimmune inflammatory condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Primrose and Thyroid Function
The omega-6 fatty acids in primrose may have an additive effect to your thyroxine medication, though this remains uncertain since clinical data examining the effects of omega-6 acids on the thyroid in humans is lacking. A study published in 1995 in the "Journal of Endocrinology" examined dietary omega-6 effects on hyperthyroid-induced mice. The study found that mice exposed to high dietary omega-6 had increased thyroxine and triiodothyronine hormone levels, even though they already had high levels from induction.
Thyroxine and Primrose Safety
The omega-6 acids in primrose may have the capability to increase your thyroid hormone levels, which means your doctor will need to decrease your thyroxine dosage accordingly. It may be best to avoid evening primrose, because it may require the need for your doctor to monitor your thyroid levels more closely and this may cause an unnecessary complication in your treatment. Thyroid hormones must remain in delicate balance since too much or too little causes adverse health effects. If you choose to take evening primrose despite this information, talk to your doctor about how this may or may not affect your treatment regimen.
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