Importantly, both vitamin D and thyroid hormone bind to similar receptors called steroid hormone receptors. A different gene in the Vitamin D receptor was shown to predispose people to autoimmune thyroid disease including Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
The researchers discovered that using vitamin D supplements significantly reduced TSH mean levels, emphasizing the need for screening and vitamin D treatment in subclinical hypothyroid individuals [99].
Supplements
As the recommended daily allowance of 400 IU of vitamin D has been shown to be inadequate for most people, I generally recommend 5,000 IU per day as a starting point for my clients with Hashimoto's. Taking your vitamin D supplements with a meal can be helpful in increasing its absorption by 30-50 percent.
Low vitamin D levels are associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism. Healthcare initiatives such as mass vitamin D deficiency screening among at-risk population could significantly decrease the risk for hypothyroidism in the long-term.
Avoid taking your thyroid hormone at the same time as:
Iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron. Calcium supplements. Antacids that contain aluminum, magnesium or calcium. Some ulcer medications, such as sucralfate (Carafate)
These include vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and iodine. Iodine in particular is really tricky to navigate. In those with thyroid disorders, iodine can be low or high. However, taking an iodine supplement (without your doctor's recommendation) can impact your thyroid negatively.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be caused by autoimmune diseases that affect thyroid function. Hypothyroidism also can occur as a result of an iodine deficiency, radiation, viral infections or the surgical removal of the thyroid gland. These conditions also may occur without any identifiable cause.
A different gene in the Vitamin D receptor was shown to predispose people to autoimmune thyroid disease including Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Vitamin D inhibits the production of Th1 polarizing cytokine (IL-12), thereby indirectly shifting the polarization of T cells from a Th1 toward a Th2 phenotype.
thyroid disease. Evidence also suggests that vitamin D can play a role in reducing the occurrence of other autoimmune diseases too. It is therefore recommended that patients suffering from hypothyroidism are tested for vitamin D deficiency to establish if vitamin D supplementation could help.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between levothyroxine and Vitamin D3.
"Most patients with vitamin D deficiency are asymptomatic, however if you're exhausted, your bones hurt, you have muscle weakness or mood changes, that's an indication that something may be abnormal with your body," says Dr. Lacey. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include: Fatigue. Not sleeping well.
Vitamin B12
A B12 supplement can improve hypothyroid symptoms by increasing the number of healthy red blood cells. These cells can deliver oxygen-fresh blood to your tissues and promote energy metabolism.
The best times to take Vitamin D
The two top times to supplement with Vitamin D are in the morning and with a meal, preferably breakfast or lunch. First thing in the morning: There are many benefits to taking Vitamin D in the morning.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease and, if serious, can cause permanent brain damage and intellectual disability in babies. Iodine is a mineral found naturally in seawater and soil. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland.
An analysis of logistic regression revealed that serum vitamin D levels were independently associated with increased thyroid nodule prevalence. We observed an inverse dose-effect relationship between TNs and serum vitamin D status with full adjustments (P for trend = 0.025%).
A recent study has reported that high circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with low circulating thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, but only in younger individuals.
Some experts recommend that everyone with hypothyroidism supplement with magnesium because a slowdown with your thyroid gland changes how your body metabolizes and eliminates this vital mineral.
Can vitamin D be harmful? Yes, getting too much vitamin D can be harmful. Very high levels of vitamin D in your blood (greater than 375 nmol/L or 150 ng/mL) can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones.
Patients with hypothyroidism had lower levels of vitamin B12 than healthy participants. No significant differences were observed between vitamin B12 levels and hyperthyroidism, AITD, or SH.
Losing weight is never easy, but people who have well-controlled hypothyroidism shouldn't struggle to lose weight more than anyone else, says Leonor Corsino, MD, an endocrinologist and associate professor at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
Having inadequate levels of vitamin D may correlate with unintentional weight gain. A study on women over the age of 65 found that participants with a lower vitamin D level experienced more weight gain.
Certain foods like fatty meat and cruciferous veggies may interfere with the production of thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism can be a tricky condition to manage, and what you eat can interfere with your treatment.
Cruciferous vegetables – Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts can inhibit the production of thyroid hormone. This is especially common in those who have an iodine deficiency. Digesting these vegetables can block the ability to absorb iodine, which is needed for normal thyroid function.