 For those of you who are reading this, and feel you only have
one minute to spare, here's the short version: be sure to take a
strong multivitamin with minerals along with a couple of grams
of Vitamin C each day. This has to be high-quality, such as can
be purchased from reputable health food stores, as opposed to
some of the larger national drug store brands in the same
category as Centrum or Centrum Silver. Most
nationally-advertised multiple vitamins sold in drugstores do
not have the potency nor the bioavailability that thyroid
sufferers need.
For those who have the time to read on, there are two general categories of need that we would like to describe. The first is those folks who have reasonable health, and who are looking to cover the major nutritional bases in terms of thyroid hormone synthesis and utilization. For these people, we can describe the nutrients that researchers tell us are crucial for proper thyroid function.
The first, of course, is iodine, which - as we have described in
our book Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health, is very much a
double-edged sword for thyroid sufferers. You absolutely need
it, but not too much of it. The latest study, to look at this
more carefully, was a 1999 report in Nutritional Review, by Lee,
Bradley, Dwyer. These researchers tell us that the size of the
population with iodine deficiency is now close to 10% of men,
and 20% of women. However, the other 80-90% do not need extra
iodine, and for many of this majority, additional iodine can
become a thyroid problem.
What to do? If you are a person who never consumes fast food,
avoids salt like the plague, doesn't eat much seafood, and feels
that sea vegetables are for fish, and especially if you live
more than 100 miles from any coast, then you might well consider
supplementation with iodine, the key mineral in thyroid hormone
production.
If you are not in this category, you would probably do well to
not take extra iodine, as you're likely to be getting more than
enough from other sources, such as iodized salt and the natural
sources of fish and sea vegetables.
This iodine dilemma is the major nutritional problem facing
everyone. Worldwise, iodine deficiency diseases account for
incalculable suffering in the form of goiter, miscarriage,
infertility, and terrible sickness affecting over one billion
people on the planet. This is a significant percentage of the
human race. However, in the US, the problem has been thought
eliminated by the widespread distribution of iodine, first in
bread dough, and in salt. Recently however, there has been
resurgence of iodine deficiency, even in our country. It is a
problem for specific people.
Researchers are presently working to develop a reliable and
effective test for iodine, but at this point, we are not
convinced that the available tests are up for the task. In light
of all this, some thyroid specialists are suggesting that you
hedge your bets and simply ingest each day an amount of iodine
that will help if you are too low, but won't hurt if you are
already sufficient. This amount appears to be about 100 mcg
(micro-grams) per day. However, if you find that you feel sick
after eating iodized foods, you may want to avoid this nutrient.
As you can see, the minerals may be more important for thyroid
production than the vitamins, because the next two items on the
list are the minerals selenium and zinc. Selenium is crucial in
both the production of T-4 thyroid hormone (thyroxine) in the
thyroid gland, as well as in the conversion of T-4 to T-3
thyroid hormone, the active form (thyronine). Zinc is needed
both before and after these production and conversion processes.
Zinc is necessary for the TRH hypothalamus hormone to stimulate
the pituitary gland, which signals the thyroid gland to produce
thyroid hormone.
Moreover, zinc is needed at the intracellular level to help the
thyroid nuclear receptors attach and drive the reading of the
DNA genetic code. Keep in mind that the main function of thyroid
hormone is to help put the genetic code into action.
Regarding selenium, we suggest 200 mcg (micro-grams) per day.
This is, again, more than is contained in the common multiple
mineral products. For zinc, we believe you can take at least 10
mg per day; please keep in mind that when taking 10-25 mg. of
zinc, you need to balance that with one mg copper for the
zinc-copper ration so useful for thyroid patients. Therefore a
good product would contain 1-2 mg of copper in addition to the
zinc.
In addition to these minerals, vitamin D is necessary for
thyroid hormone production in the pituitary gland, and possibly
in the early stages of T-3 (thyronine) binding to its receptor.
Vitamin E is part of the necessary supporting apparatus that
enables the deiodinase enzyme to convert T-4 (inactive thyroid
hormone) into T-3 (the active type).
It now appears that the amount of vitamin D people need has been
grossly under-estimated, nor is it as toxic as first was
thought. We recommend at least 800 IU of Vitamin D daily.
The amount of vitamin E needed has likewise been undersold; we
recommend 400-800 IU daily. This turns out to be more than is
provided in most multiple vitamins, yet it allows for excellent
antioxidant protection as well as helping menopausal women avoid
hot flashes without resorting to estrogen.
There you have it - the 5 most essential nutrients for feeding
the thyroid gland. Keep in mind, however, that these researchers
based their studies, for the most part, on fairly healthy
individuals. If you have had a thyroid problem of some duration,
or if you have some other illness, in addition to your thyroid
problem, then other recommendations apply to you. These include:
- a full-symphony antioxidant, not just the C and E, but
especially 5000 - 10,000 IU of Vitamin A, which is usually
present in most multiple products. The other antioxidants, such
as lipoic acid, pygnogenol, etc. are often omitted in a multiple
vitamin with minerals, but are indeed present in an antioxidant
combo. We suggest, for people in this category, very strong
anti-oxidant supplementation.
- Moreover, to have your thyroid get to where it needs to go, you
are likely to need high doses of the essential fatty acids (EFA)
in a 2:1 mix of Omega 3 and Omega 6. This can best be obtained
in a separate gel capsule or as refrigerated liquids from the
health food store.
- Finally, long-time sufferers would do well to take extra
amino acids. Recall that thyroid hormone is basically the amino
acid tyrosine with some iodines attached. Amino acid metabolism
is crucial for thyroid function, but it is not just tyrosine
that is needed. In fact, far better if full-symphony, free-form
amino acids, a couple of grams per day.
There you have it. Optimal thyroid nutrients can make an
incredible difference, whether you are taking natural and/or
synthetic medicines for your condition. For those who have
special complex individualized needs, nutritional thyroid
coaching sessions with Dr. Rich Shames are available to help
speed your recovery, for any location, through a coaching session. See www.feelingfff.com for more information.
Note from Mary: How Can You Meet The Shames' Recommendations?
It may sound complicated to meet all of the Shames' recommendations regarding supplements, but it's actually not, because I've worked it all out for you! (Note: These are my own recommendations regarding what I take. The Shames did not specify any brands.)
Multivitamin
First, as a base, I highly recommend that your multivitamin/antioxidant/enzyme/mineral combination be Jacob Teitelbaum, MD's "Fatigued to Fantastic!®" Fatigued to Fantastic Energy Revitalization. This is the vitamin I take daily, and I find it very effective. It comes in a powdered vitamin formula, which I love, because I really don't want to have to pop a million pills every day. When mixed with water, it makes a tasty citrus flavored drink, and is so packed with vitamins, minerals and supplements that it actually can replace more than 20 different supplement pills a day. It's a comprehensive vitamin formula that was designed for thyroid, autoimmune, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients, but is actually an excellent daily multivitamin for anyone.
Fatigued to Fantastic Energy Revitalization includes, among many nutrients:
- Iodine -- about 100 mcg (micro-grams) per day
- Selenium -- 200 mcg (micro-grams) per day
- Zinc -- 10 mg per day, plus 500 mcg of Copper
- Vitamin D -- 600 IU
- Vitamin E -- 100 IU
- Vitamin C -- 750 mg
- Vitamin A -- 3,500 IU
- Amino acids -- L-Alanine, L-Arginine, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Cystine, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Clycine, L-Histidine, L-Isoleucine, L-Luceine, L-Lysine, L-Methionine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Proline, L-Serine, L-Taurine, L-Theronine, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, L-Valine
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Multivitamin -- Powder Formula
Enzymatic Therapy, Fatigued to Fantastic! Energy Revitalization System, Berry Splash, 19 oz (540 g) |
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Vitamin C -- Dissolvable Crystals
Rainbow Light,  makes a wonderful dissolvable Vitamin C in powder form. You can mix in into your vitamin powder, to up the intake of vitamin C easily. |
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Essential Fatty Acids
Source Naturals has a unique formula that includes various omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids from fish, borage and flaxseed oils in the right proportions.
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Vitamins A & D
Nature's Way, Vitamin A and D, 15,000 IU and 400 IU, 100 Capsules |
So, one vitamin drink and a few capsules, you've covered all your nutritional bases!
Original Article © 2003, Thyroid-info.com, Revised article © 2007.
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