Vitamin D and your thyroid

11 years ago
Posted in: Your Health

thyroid gland

The thyroid is a large endocrine gland found in the neck and is very important to the body’s normal processes. It controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. It participates in these processes by producing thyroid hormones, mainly, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body. T3 and T4 are synthesized from both iodine and tyrosine. The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium homeostasis.

Hormonal output from the thyroid is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which is produced by the anterior pituitary.  This is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which is produced by the hypothalamus. Most issues with thyroid have to do with it being overactive (hyperthyroidism) or under active ( hypothyroidism). We’ll talk mostly about hypothyroidism and how Vitamin D can help.

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. It is primarily known as being responsible for intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate. In humans, the most important related compounds of vitamin D are Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2).  They can be ingested from the diet and/or supplements. The body can also synthesize vitamin D3 from cholesterol when sun exposure is adequate.  Preliminary evidence also suggests that vitamin D may aid in cancer prevention by blocking cell growth and differentiation (cells mature and take on a specialized form and function).

In addition to all Vitamin D is responsible for as stated above, they’ve recently found that thyroid treatment isn’t optimal and may not work in hypothyroid patients if they don’t have adequate Vitamin D for the crucial final metabolic step, which takes place at the site where thyroid hormone actually works, which is inside the nucleus of the cell. Vitamin D needs to be present at sufficient levels in the cell in order for the thyroid hormone to actually affect that cell. That is why vitamin D is so crucial.

If you have an underactive thyroid and your thyroid supplementation isn’t working then you should ask your health care provider to check your Vitamin D level to make sure it’s within an optimal range. If not, you may need vitamin d supplementation in addition to thyroid supplementation for adequate therapy.

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