Your pituitary gland, a small, hormone-secreting gland located along the base of your brain, controls a number of physiological processes. The hormones secreted by the gland regulate growth and sexual maturity, blood pressure, metabolism, temperature regulation, and also help to regulate pregnancy and lactation in women. A number of factors contribute to pituitary functioning, and several nutrients from your diet can positively or negatively effect the health of your pituitary.
Iodine
One of the nutrients that contributes to the health of your pituitary is iodine, an essential mineral. The pituitary gland constantly interacts with another hormone gland, called your thyroid. The two glands work together to help regulate hormone levels in your body, and dysfunction of the thyroid gland also affects the pituitary. Deficiency in iodine prevents proper thyroid functioning, and leads to the abnormal overproduction of thyroid stimulating hormone in the pituitary gland, explains the National Cancer Institute. Consuming enough iodine in your diet helps restore proper communication between your pituitary and thyroid glands, and allows for proper pituitary function.
Vitamin A
Another nutrient that can affect your pituitary gland is vitamin A, or retinol. Like iodine, vitamin A has an effect on the communication between your pituitary and your thyroid gland. A study published in "The Journal of Nutrition" in 2007 found that vitamin A can exacerbate the effects of iodine deficiency, as well as effect the activity of specific genes within the pituitary gland. The effect of vitamin A deficiency can prove especially devastating in developing countries, where people also typically suffer from an iodine deficiency.
Iron
Another nutrient important to pituitary functioning is iron, another essential mineral. While consuming adequate iron aids in oxygen flow to the pituitary gland and brain, too much iron can damage your pituitary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that excessive storage of iron in your body can lead to iron deposition in the pituitary. Over time, the excess iron interferes with pituitary gland functioning, leading to decreased production of sec hormones in the body, loss of libido, irregular or absent menstrual periods, and impotence in men.
Eating for Pituitary
To maintain a health pituitary, as well as to maintain your general health, you should consume a balanced and varied diet made up of plants, legumes and lean proteins. To prevent iodine and vitamin A deficiencies, consume iodized salt, seafood, navy beans and turkey breast, as well as pumpkin, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes. To prevent harmful iron storage, do not consume more than 45 mg of iron daily, the maximum safe total iron intake, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. If you suffer from an iron metabolism disorder that increases your risk of iron accumulation, talk to your doctor about a safe iron intake level to protect your pituitary.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
- "Journal of Nutrition:"; Vitamin A repletion in rats with concurrent vitamin A and iodine deficiency affects pituitary TSHbeta gene expression and reduces thyroid hyperstimulation and thyroid size; Biebinger et al.; March 2007
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Hemochromatosis (Iron Storage Disease); September 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute; Iron; Dr. Jane Higdon; January 2006
