I have seen a lot of messages about the role of vitamins play in supporting thyroid function for hypoactive thyroid. As I do not have a functioning thyroid (due having Radioactive Iodine in January 2024) there seems to be little point in me taking supplements to support thyroid function.
So - I would find it really helpful to have a better idea about which vitamins/supplements are helpful to support the efficacy of L4 and L3 medication in the body in the absence of the thyroid itself.
I have been told that essential amino acids are useful and I now take grass fed, no hormone, organic beef collagen to obtain these. (Collagen types 1 and 3)
Many thanks, Jill
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Caradoc1a
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Most nutrients are needed regardless whether we have a thyroid gland.
The exceptions, in my view, are iodine, and (arguably) tyrosine.
Iodine is no longer required in order to make thyroid hormones. That is not to say that you should avoid foods that contain ordinary levels of iodine. But you should be on full replacement doses of LT4 and/or LT3 so there is no need for iodine just to make thyroid hormones.
The amount of tyrosine you need might be slightly smaller but many of us consume far more than we actually need in the first place.
You need selenium for the enzymes involved in handling thyroid hormones in the rest of your body - even if your need for it within the thyroid has disappeared. I'm not aware of research which has established the amount actually needed in those without thyroid glands - unfortunately.
There are no vitamins which are needed exclusively by the thyroid.
Indeed, many of the so-called thyroid support products are themselves extremely questionable.
helvella - Thyroid Support Products
A short discussion about the various thyroid support formulas and similar products.
Was Graves Disease the reason for your phase of hyperthyroidism ?
RAI is known to ' trash ' vitamins and minerals amongst other things and we need our core strength, key nutrients, strong and solid in order to be well, whether we have a thyroid or not.
RAI slowly burns out the thyroid is situ rendering the patient primary hypothyroid - dependant on dose of RAI - some people are immediately placed on a largish dose of T4 - Levothyroxine - whilst for others T4 treatment isn't commenced for some months as it takes time for the RAI to burn through and fully disable the thyroid.
I too was immediately placed on 100 mcg T4 daily - and tolerated this treatment option for around 8 years - when I then found myself much more unwell than ever before and long story short now self medicate and buy my own thyroid hormone replacement and am much improved.
Non optimal levels of core strength vitamins and minerals - especially those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D can compound your health issues further than necessary -
and I read that no thyroid hormone replacement works well, whether it be T3., T4 or Natural Desiccated Thyroid, until the core strength vitamins and minerals - as detailed - are up and maintained at optimal levels.
Without a thyroid, especially if with Graves Disease, it is essential that you are dosed and monitored on your Free T3 and Free T4 and not a TSH reading.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation from your physicality and stamina, through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg -
with T3 - being the active hormone and said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4 - which is a pro-hormone, a hormone mostly stored in the body, and converted into T3 as and when needed for the body to run smoothly.
We do now have some research you may like to have :-
If this your diagnosis is Graves Disease - I found the most well rounded of all I researched is that of Elaine Moore - books and websites - elaine-moore.com
Thank you for your reply. As far as I know, I didn't have Graves Disease. I was given no reason for hyperthyroidism. I had it previously about 25 years ago and Chinese medicine/acupuncture helped. I tried similar regimes this time around, but no luck.
I will follow up your links and talk to my endo consultant.
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