According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 4.6 percent of the U.S. population over 12 years old lives with hypothyroidism, with women far more likely to develop the condition than men. Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.
This diminished thyroid function can potentially lead to devastating health consequences, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, pain, depression, plus much more.
Although thyroid medications are the gold standard for managing hypothyroidism symptoms, they are certainly not the only way to nudge your thyroid gland to release more of its vital hormones.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition put two nutrients to the test to see if they can help improve thyroid function.
Addressing the Effectiveness of Medications For Underactive Thyroid Treatment
Living with low thyroid can be challenging as the condition tends to worsen over time, with symptoms becoming more severe. When diagnosed, doctors often recommend taking one of the many thyroid medications available, which may be required for the rest of your life.
However, it’s important to consider the potential side effects and long-term health consequences, such as breast cancer, associated with these medications.
Additionally, studies have shown that medication efficacy can be questionable, with as many as 40 percent of patients continuing to have abnormal TSH levels even when taking thyroid medications. As a result, researchers have explored natural ways to boost thyroid hormone levels, including the use of nutrients.
2 Nutrients Increase Thyroid Hormone Levels
In this 12-week study, researchers divided 68 obese women with underactive thyroid into four groups.
Group 1 received 30 milligrams of zinc (as zinc gluconate) and 200 micrograms of selenium (as selenium yeast)
Group 2 received 30 mg of zinc
Group 3 received 200 micrograms of selenium
Group 4 received a placebo
After the study period, researchers observed noteworthy enhancements in multiple aspects. Firstly, the group consuming zinc-selenium saw a 9.2 percent rise in Free T3 hormone levels.
Meanwhile, the zinc-only group experienced an even more impressive 27 percent boost. Secondly, patients who took both zinc and selenium saw a 12.4 percent increase in Free T4 levels. Lastly, the ratio between Free T3 and Free T4 also improved by 23.8 percent.
Consequently, researchers reached the conclusion that supplementing with zinc or zinc and selenium is advantageous for thyroid function.
