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.
Multivitamins. Like hormones, minerals like iron and calcium can bind to thyroid hormone and inhibit absorption. A good rule of thumb: “Take your thyroid hormone first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and take multivitamins and other supplements at lunch, at least 4 hours later,” suggests Levy.
Though it may not have a direct effect on thyroid or thyroid hormones, having an optimal vitamin D level can protect you from thyroid disorders as well as improve markers of thyroid autoimmunity.
Research suggests taking your Thyroxine with vitamin C improves T4 uptake and reduces TSH level. It is believed this is because vitamin C helps reduce the pH of the stomach, increasing stomach acidity which in turn facilitates improved Thyroxine absorption.
According to the Mayo Clinic, supplements such as calcium, iron, multivitamins containing iron, and antacids containing magnesium or aluminum can potentially have interactions with thyroid medications.
It's important to keep in mind that certain nutrition deficiencies are more common among people with thyroid disorders. 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.
How magnesium affects the thyroid. We need magnesium to convert the inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active thyroid hormone T3. Without this conversion, cells do not receive the more potent form of thyroid hormone. Therefore, when magnesium levels are low, our thyroid is not able to function correctly.
Background/aims: Zinc is crucial for proper thyroid hormone metabolism; zinc deficiency may result in decreased thyroid hormone levels and resting metabolic rate (RMR).
Specifically, antacids, calcium, cholesterol drugs, and iron supplements can each interfere with the way the thyroid hormone is absorbed. So, you should take these particular drugs four hours before or after taking your thyroid medication, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease and, if serious, can cause permanent brain damage and intellectual disability in babies.
Nutrients such as selenium and vitamin D have been shown to help prevent and mitigate flare-ups of autoimmune thyroid disorders. Autoimmune or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.
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.
Fruits: Apples, Pears and Citrus
Apples, pears, plums and citrus fruits are abundant with pectins, which help with detoxifying the body of mercury – one of the most critical metals that have been connected to thyroid problems.
However, the magnesium most often recommended for hypothyroid patients is magnesium glycinate because it's the most easily absorbed. It's also far less likely to cause adverse effects -- primarily loose stools -- when compared to other forms of magnesium.
Regardless, research has indicated that a vitamin B12 deficiency can negatively affect those living with hypothyroidism, and that both deficiencies can go unnoticed if the proper tests are not performed.
Too much iodine can make hypothyroidism worse in people who already have the condition. In some parts of the world, it's common for people not to get enough iodine in their diets. The addition of iodine to table salt has almost eliminated this problem in the United States.
Supplements containing vitamins D and B along with selenium, zinc, iron, curcumin, and magnesium are among the best supplements for Hashimoto's disease. Supplements may be beneficial for some patients with this condition but should be taken with your doctor's supervision as part of a treatment plan.
The group of drugs not used to treat thyroid dysfunction, which can result in drug-induced hypothyroidism includes amiodarone, nitroprusside, sulfonylureas, thalidomide, interleukin, lithium, perchlorate, and interferon-alpha therapy.
Zinc, vitamin A, and magnesium supplementation may have beneficial effects in patients with hypothyroidism and in diseases associated with hyperthyroidism.
Taking levothyroxine and magnesium oxide too close together may interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine and reduce its effectiveness. To prevent or minimize potential interaction, these medications should preferably be taken at least four hours apart.
A deficiency in zinc can lead to hypothyroidism. On the other hand, hypothyroidism can lead to a zinc deficiency, as thyroid hormones are required for the absorption of zinc. When supplementing with thyroid hormones, taking a zinc supplement is also important (6).
Nutritional support is essential for overall thyroid health. Certain minerals play important roles in supporting the thyroid gland, including iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and boron.
Micronutrients, mostly iodine and selenium, are required for thyroid hormone synthesis and function. Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones and its deficiency is considered as the most common cause of preventable brain damage in the world.
Magnesium assists in the activation of vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphate homeostasis to influence the growth and maintenance of bones. All of the enzymes that metabolize vitamin D seem to require magnesium, which acts as a cofactor in the enzymatic reactions in the liver and kidneys.