Suboptimal Thyroid Function

Signs You May Have Suboptimal Thyroid Function

Thyroid hormone is one of the most misunderstood hormones. It’s so misunderstood that as many as 60% of people who have a thyroid issue don’t even know it.   

Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck. It releases thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism, energy levels, brain function, and more.

If your thyroid is not working at optimal function, here are some possible signs:

• Exhaustion

• Forgetfulness

• Mood Problems

• Feeling Cold

• Weight Gain

• Constipation

• Thinning Hair

• Dry Skin

• Brittle Nails

Some people who experience these symptoms end up being diagnosed with hypothyroid. Others struggle with these issues and are told their thyroid labs look normal. That can happen because the normal lab ranges are not necessarily optimal or because not all forms of thyroid hormone have been looked at in the test. 

👉 It’s possible to have suboptimal thyroid function even if your routine thyroid labs look “normal.”

Women are up to 8 times as likely to develop a thyroid condition as men. If left ignored, it could cause problems during pregnancy or increase your risk of things like heart disease as you age.

Menopausal women are at an even greater risk. Once the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, all sex hormones are produced in the adrenal glands. If you go into peri-menopause feeling burned-out, stressed and tired, your adrenal glands are likely worn out and that puts extra pressure on the thyroid. This happens because both organs work together to manage energy output.

Could you be one of the millions of people with unrecognized suboptimal thyroid function?

Root Causes of Suboptimal Thyroid Function

How could it be possible to experience thyroid-related problems even when routine labs show that thyroid function is “normal?” Let’s break this down. 

Here’s how your thyroid works:

A hormone called thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) is released from your hypothalamus (deep inside your brain), which triggers thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) release from your pituitary gland (also in your brain). TSH travels through your blood to trigger thyroid hormone production in your thyroid gland (at the base of your neck). 

Your thyroid gland produces 2 active forms of thyroid hormone that circulate through your body:

• T4 (thyroxine)

• T3 (triiodothyronine)

Even though your body makes much more T4 than T3, your T3 is about 4 times as powerful and considered an even more active form. Your body can also produce reverse T3 (rT3), which actually blocks thyroid function. 

The most common screening test for thyroid function is TSH. The lab’s normal reference range does not always pick up a thyroid disorder. If symptoms are present we need to look deeper. Here are some possible scenarios to explain suboptimal thyroid function even when TSH is not flagged:

• Insufficient production of T4

• Insufficient conversion of T4 → T3

• Increased production of reverse T3 (rT3)

That’s why—if you are struggling with unexplained exhaustion, brain fog, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails, or any other signs of thyroid imbalance—it’s so important to have your doctor run a more comprehensive panel of thyroid tests. 

Of course, the next question to ask is what could be causing suboptimal thyroid function? Here are just a few of the possible root causes that I will discuss in detail below:

• Nutrient insufficiencies

• Chronic stress

• Autoimmunity

• Exposure to environmental toxins

While we are identifying and treating the root cause of a thyroid disorder, it is often important to prescribe hormone replacement. Medication will not only restore energy and reduce symptoms, it will also protect your thyroid from over stimulation by TSH. Chronic elevated TSH can burn your thyroid out and make it more difficult to experience a full recovery.

Nutrients for Thyroid Health 

As explained above, there are many different factors that disrupt thyroid function. One possibility that is pretty easy to address is insufficient nutrient status. 

So, let’s take a look at some of the most important nutrients for thyroid health. 

• Tyrosine. L-tyrosine is an amino acid present in many protein-rich foods. Your body can also make it from other amino acids. Tyrosine is a building block required for the synthesis of thyroid hormone. 

   

• Iodine. Iodine is a trace mineral in seaweed, seafood, and iodized salt. It binds with tyrosine as another essential building block of thyroid hormone. 

   

• Selenium. Your thyroid gland concentrates more selenium than any other organ of the body. Selenium acts as an antioxidant and also supports thyroid hormone production. Quick tip, 3 Brazil nuts provides what you need daily, about 200 mcg.

   

• Zinc. Zinc is a mineral that concentrates in meats and shellfish and is also found in smaller amounts in vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes. It supports enzymes involved in thyroid hormone production and function. 

This is not an exhaustive list of nutrients needed for thyroid function. You also need B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and more. One of the best ways to get the range of nutrients your thyroid needs is through a nutrient-dense diet. 

Whether you are vegan, keto-centric or something in-between, a whole food diet with an array of veggies provides most of the phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins you need to stay healthy. When the nutrients you need are not in your foods, such as omega-3 fatty acids for a vegan or beta-carotene for someone on strict keto, it is important to use supplements to fill the gaps. 

Why Stress Disrupts Your Thyroid

 Do you know what your body does when you experience stress?

It produces cortisol. 

Cortisol is an adrenal hormone that is meant to help your body respond to stressful situations. But...too much and too often can have damaging effects on your thyroid. Here’s why:

➡️ Cortisol increases the production of reverse T3 (rT3), which blocks thyroid function.

➡️ Cortisol decreases TSH, which is needed to stimulate thyroid hormone production.

➡️ Cortisol can indirectly lead to higher levels of thyroid binding globulin, which decreases the amount of free thyroid hormone available for cells.

There really is a quite complicated relationship between thyroid health and stress because of the hormones involved with each. But there’s a pretty simple takeaway message here: 

If you want to support optimal thyroid function, you cannot ignore the effects of stress—and that means anything your body PERCEIVES as stress (including things like under-eating or over-exercising!). Here are a handful of things you can do to reduce your stress:

🍏Eat in a way that supports healthy blood sugar balance (balance fats, protein and carbs for your metabolism)

👟Exercise the right amount for your body (movement is key but not in excess!) 

🧘‍♂️Take breaks (your body needs rest as much as it needs activity!)

💤Aim for sound sleep (this might mean cutting the glass or wine or social scrolls at night so you can get to bed early)

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

In addition to testing TSH, free T4, free T3 and reverse T3, it is a good idea to run thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). These tests screen for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that causes hypothyroidism.

Much less common is hyperthyroidism caused by the autoimmune condition called Graves disease. The symptoms are opposite and include weight loss, anxiety, heart palpitations, hand tremors and puffy eyes. Usually the thyroid gland is noticeably enlarged, referred to as goiter. Note that in this case, hypothyroidism from any cause can also have goiter as a symptom.

What causes autoimmune thyroid disease? People with a family history of any autoimmune disease have an increased risk. Chronic or acute stress and years of poor nutrition can also be factors. One of the most un-talked about causes is chemicals in the environment.

Environmental Toxins

There are around 90,000 man-made chemicals in circulation. Of those, about 3,000 are common chemicals in everyday living. Some pollute our water and air, some are applied to our food as pesticides and others we put on our bodies when we use body care products that contain chemicals.

The thyroid is located just under the skin on the neck where it is easily exposed to anything we eat or drink and anything we apply to the skin. The neck is also an extremely vulnerable area for exposure to air pollution.

Chemicals can damage the thyroid in three ways:

1.      Oxidative stress

2.     Endocrine disruption

3.    Autoimmune induction

Many chemicals, particularly air pollution and metals, such as mercury and lead, cause oxidative damage. Nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium protect the thyroid from these effects. Too much exposure to these and other chemicals, especially when nutrition is poor, can shift the balance to oxidative damage of your thyroid.

Other chemicals mimic hormones and disrupt our endocrine system. Both BPA and phthalates are hormone mimicking compounds that can cause an imbalance of thyroid hormones. They are also potential drivers of autoimmune thyroiditis.

BPA is used to make plastic harder and shiny and is found in hard water bottle, receipt paper, canned foods and other consumer products.

            Tip: don’t be fooled by BPA-free labeling. Generally this

means BPA has been substituted with BPS, BPF or another

equally toxic compound.

Phthalates are used in many everyday personal care products including lotion, shampoo, make-up and perfume. Look for phthalate-free labeling and avoid anything that contains perfume.

Summary

It is important to screen for thyroid disease when symptoms related to thyroid dysfunction appear. Treatment with thyroid hormones can reverse symptoms and be life-changing for many people. However, it is not enough to simply prescribe thyroid hormone replacement when an imbalance is identified. We need to dig deeper and look for patterns and explanations.

As a naturopathic doctor practicing functional medicine, I always aim to understand the root cause of your health concerns. For thyroid disease, we should look for nutrient deficiencies, reduce stress and lower exposure to thyroid damaging chemicals. Identifying and removing the cause can help your body bring itself back into balance.  

In short, the quick fix of any health imbalance is not enough. I want to help you OPTIMIZE your health—because when you are not feeling your best, it affects every area of your life. When you are your best self you can give your greatest gift and make the world a better place.

To find out how I can help you regain your vim and vigor

[Book a Discovery Call]

Sources

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Larson-Meyer, D. Enette PhD, RD, FACSM; Gostas, Demetre E. MS Thyroid Function and Nutrient Status in the Athlete, Current Sports Medicine Reports: February 2020 - Volume 19 - Issue 2 - p 84-94

Choi S, Kim MJ, Park YJ, Kim S, Choi K, Cheon GJ, Cho YH, Jeon HL, Yoo J, Park J. Thyroxine-binding globulin, peripheral deiodinase activity, and thyroid autoantibody status in association of phthalates and phenolic compounds with thyroid hormones in adult population. Environ Int. 2020 Jul;140:105783. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105783. Epub 2020 May 25. PMID: 32464474.