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.
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.
Just as there shouldn't be food in your stomach when you take your hypothyroidism medication, it's also important to avoid taking any other medication at the same time. Specifically, antacids, calcium, cholesterol drugs, and iron supplements can each interfere with the way the thyroid hormone is absorbed.
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.
Iron and calcium supplements can interfere with how your body absorbs thyroid medications. So space these at least 4 hours apart. Another supplement to watch out for is biotin. It's commonly taken for its hair, skin, and nail benefits.
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.
Magnesium is crucial to more than 300 physical functions in the body and can help relieve some common symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Vitamin D3 supplementation may help to reduce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that vitamin D supplementation among hypothyroid patients for 12 weeks improved serum TSH levels and calcium concentrations.
Iodine: Yes. Avoid it as a supplement whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The effect of iodine supplements can vary by person, causing the thyroid to produce either too much or too little hormone.
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.
Fatty Foods Such as Butter, Meat, and All Things Fried
Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well. Some healthcare professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as butter, mayonnaise, margarine, and fatty cuts of meat.
Vitamin C is vital for your thyroid and body to stay healthy! This vitamin is required for biosynthesis of collagen, protein metabolism and functions as an antioxidant to strengthen the immune system to prevent infections, cold and flu.
Zinc and other trace elements such as copper and selenium are required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, and deficiency of these can result in hypothyroidism. Conversely, thyroid hormones are essential for the absorption of zinc, and hence hypothyroidism can result in acquired zinc deficiency.
Fortified milk not only has added vitamin D, but also significant amounts of calcium, protein, and iodine.
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that may help decrease inflammation in the thyroid gland related to conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, DeQuervain's thyroiditis or other forms of thyroiditis.
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.
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.
Various organisations recommend different daily requirements for vitamin D, ranging from 200 to 1000 IU (International Units) per day. The NHS guidance for adults and children over 1 years old is to consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D (400IU).
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.
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.
Zinc and the thyroid
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).
People over the age of 31 are recommended 420 mg daily for men and 320 mg for women. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding between the ages of 14 to 18 should take 400 mg or 360 mg, respectively.