If you have Hashimoto’s you have probably wondered if you are doing everything you can to support your thyroid function. Many conventional doctors, and even your endocrinologist, will tell you that your daily thyroid medication is all you need to worry about. You have also most likely been told that there is nothing else to do for your thyroid autoimmune condition.
Today, let’s take a look at essential nutrients that support thyroid function by lowering thyroid antibodies. You can get these nutrients from food, but most likely, you will need to supplement to get higher therapeutic doses.
5 Essential Nutrients for Hashimoto’s
Magnesium
Because magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in our body, we need to make sure we are not deficient. If you have hypothyroid or Hashimoto’s, you are already prone to deficiency then add caffeine, stress, and alcohol to the mix to deplete us even further. It was found in this 2018 study that a severe magnesium deficiency leads to clinical hypothyroid and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with an increase of thyroid antibodies.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include leg cramps, menstrual cramps, headaches, edema, poor sleep, anxiety, irritability, heart palpitations, numbness, tingling of hands and nausea. Supplement with magnesium glycinate (500-800mg/day) or you may do better with magnesium citrate if you are prone to constipation. Additionally, Epsom salt baths are a great way to unwind and let the magnesium soak in through your skin!
Selenium + Myo-inositol
This combination of selenium with myo-inositol together for 6 months was shown in this 2017 study to be powerful in reducing thyroid antibodies and lowering TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to normal levels. We also know that selenium is necessary for the conversion of T4 to the active form of thyroid hormone, T3, so it can be utilized by the body.
Vitamin A & D
Vitamin A and D are fat-soluble vitamins that act similar to hormones in that they are able to modulate the immune system to lower TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies. This 2015 study shows that often those with Hashimoto’s will have genetic polymorphisms that will disrupt proper absorption of Vitamin D. Dosing is individual and is somewhere between 5,000iu up to 25,000iu per day so testing should be done at least every 6-12 months to prevent deficiency or toxicity.
Glutathione
As the most abundant antioxidant in our body, glutathione is able to reduce the oxidative stress immune reaction in Hashimoto’s. This 2013 study provides clinical relevance to supporting adequate glutathione levels in the prevention and treatment of thyroid autoimmune reactivity. When supplementing to increase glutathione levels, use only liposomal glutathione (under the tongue) or N-acetylcholine (NAC) which is a precursor to glutathione and better absorbed orally.
I hope this information has helped you to support the forgotten autoimmune side to your hypothyroid disease! If you have unstable TSH or high thyroid antibodies, following an autoimmune diet, low stress lifestyle and adding in some of these essential nutrients can lower reactivity and improve your thyroid function.
