Thyroid Deficiency | Increase The Intake Of These Vitamins And Minerals

There is a long list of symptoms associated with thyroid deficiency and dysfunction. Some of the more well known include fatigue, sensitivity to the cold, digestive issues, and thinning hair. The less known symptoms are ones like reduced reflexes, speech problems, and heart issues.

The current list has over 300 symptoms and being aware of these symptoms can be daunting. If you think you might be experiencing some of these symptoms, you should ask your physician about your vitamin and mineral levels. Along with everything else, an underactive thyroid gland can cause various vitamin/mineral deficiencies, many of which are vital to the body’s function.

Thyroid Deficiency: The Supplements You Need

Vitamin D

Thyroid dysfunction affects Vitamin D and Vitamin D3, which is also known as cholecalciferol. Vitamin D levels decrease in individuals who suffer from Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This happens for a variety of reasons. Some of which are gastrointestinal disturbances, inflammation, and VDR polymorphisms (vitamin D receptors polymorphisms). All of these can prevent the absorption of Vitamin D. Other studies also suggest antithyroid antibodies cause a vitamin D decline.

One way to increase your intake of this vitamin is to increase your sun exposure. This may seem like a dangerous concept, but sun exposure is crucial to healthy vitamin D levels. You can also take supplements if needed. However, researchers disagree about the proper reference range of Vitamin D intake. According to the National Institutes of Health, the range is anywhere from 400-800IU (international units) per day. This depends on age and gender.

Iron

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Iron levels take a big hit when you have hypothyroidism. The presence of an iron deficiency, also known as anemia, can be problematic and even life-threatening if left untreated. Iron is essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Thyroid dysfunction like hypothyroidism can cause low iron levels due to poor digestive health. This can lead to a condition known as hypochlorhydria. This is when the stomach acid levels decrease making it impossible to absorb proper nutrients.

While a low functioning thyroid can lead to iron deficiency, iron deficiency can also lead to a low functioning thyroid. So if you suffer from both, the conditions will continue to get worse. Iron does not only carry oxygen throughout the body. It also helps deiodinase activity which is the conversion of the thyroid hormones from T4 to T3. Without this, the body is without the active form of the thyroid hormone.

Increasing your iron levels can be a difficult task especially if you have a thyroid issue. One way to increase your levels is through iron-rich foods such as beef, pork, chicken, eggs, beans, and whole grains. Always include them in your hypothyroidism diet plan. You can also take an iron supplement or, if your levels are low, your doctor may consider iron injections.

Magnesium

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Another mineral that makes the list of “Most Likely to be Deficient In” is magnesium, a very important yet overlooked mineral. This mineral handles over 300 chemical reactions in the body without which it would stop functioning properly. Many of the vitamin/mineral deficiencies already listed have come as a result of thyroid dysfunction. But magnesium is unique in the sense that it can be a cause of thyroid dysfunction. This mineral, like iron, assists in the conversion of the thyroid hormones from T4 to T3 and causes the body to create more of the T4 hormone to convert. It also helps prevent the enlargement of the thyroid gland, known as goiter.

You can increase magnesium levels through food and supplementation. The best magnesium-rich foods include almonds, spinach, bread, nuts, and edamame. If you have a thyroid condition and are aware of the foods you should and should not eat, you notice that a few listed qualify as goitrogens. If you don’t feel it is worth the risk, you may want to take the route of supplementation. No matter what you decide, always remember to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.

For magnesium, there are overwhelming supplement choices. To make it simpler, the two main forms of magnesium supplements are Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Glycinate. They are similar in effects and both will build your levels but there is one main difference. Magnesium Citrate is likely to affect your digestive system which may be beneficial if you experience one specific hypothyroid symptom: constipation. If this isn’t an issue you deal with, you should choose Magnesium Glycinate.

Infographic | Supplements You Need For Optimal Thyroid Health

This list hasn’t even scratched the surface in regards to the type of deficiencies that one can expect to see with hypothyroidism or thyroid dysfunction in general. We are hopeful it gives you some insight and causes you to bring these levels up at your next doctor’s appointment.