Hypothyroidism
July 23, 2004 by Linda Lazarides
Filed under Health issues
Some causative factors
- Environmental pollution
- Food intolerance
- Selenium deficiency
- Smoking
- Zinc deficiency.
Smoking habits were evaluated in 128 normal women and 135 women with primary hypothyroidism. Among those with overt hypothyroidism, the smokers have a greater degree of hypothyroidism, and the heavier the smoking habits, the worse this was. Both thyroid function and hormonal function were affected by smoking. Muller B et al: Impaired action of thyroid hormone associated with smoking in women with hypothyroidism. N Engl J Med 333(15):964-9, 1995.
Promising nutritional research
17 patients diagnosed as hypothyroid were able to discontinue thyroid replacement therapy after beginning a food elimination and replacement programme free of sugar and refined foods. Thyroid function returned to or remained normal. Borok G et al: Atopy: the incidence in chronic recurrent maladies. XVI European Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Madrid, 1995.
Selenium is required to convert the T4 thyroid hormone to the active T3 form, a process which is frequently inefficient in the elderly, who often suffer from hypothyroidism. Selenium supplementation in a group of elderly patients was found to significantly improve selenium status and decrease T4 levels compared with controls. Olivieri O et al: Low selenium status in the elderly influences thyroid hormones. Clin Sci (Colch) 89(6):637-42, 1995.
In a group of 52 Down’s syndrome patients suffering from hypothyroidism, 9 were found to be zinc deficient. When administered zinc supplements their thyroid function improved. Napolitano G et al: Is zinc deficiency a cause of subclinical hypothyroidism in Down’s syndrome? Ann Genet 33(1):9-15, 1990.
T4 thyroid hormone requires conversion to the active T3 form for utilization in the body. Nine out of 13 subjects with low T3 levels were found to have mild to moderate zinc deficiency. After supplementation with zinc sulphate for 12 months, T3 and T4 levels normalized. The researchers conclude that zinc may play a part in thyroid hormone metabolism in patients with low T3 levels and may play a part in the conversion of T4 to T3. Nishiyama S et al: Zinc supplementation alters thyroid hormone metabolism in disabled patients with zinc deficiency. J Am Coll Nutr 13(1):62-7, 1994.
Selenium supplementation when administered to hypothyroid cystic fibrosis patients resulted in an increase in T3 thyroid hormone levels, indicating that conversion of T4 to T3 had improved. LDL cholesterol decreased, which was taken as another measure of improved thyroid hormone efficacy. Kauf E et al: Sodium selenite therapy and thyroid-hormone status in cystic fibrosis and congenital hypothyroidism. Biol Trace Elem Res 40(3):247-53, 1994.
Information compiled by Linda Lazarides
Naturopathic Nutritionist, Author, Educator
Linda Lazarides is Course Director of the School of Modern Naturopathy and author of eight books on health, nutrition and naturopathy.
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