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Vitamin E Supplementation for Thyroid Health

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Vitamins are important for the vital functioning of the body. This is more so in case of those who have thyroid problems.  The busy lives we lead make it difficult to focus on eating a balanced diet. Missed meals and junk food combo can have adverse effect on your body, especially your thyroid gland.

And in the average vegetarian diet of people with thyroid condition, the protein sources used do not replenish the amounts needed for the body and thyroid in particular. Supplements including Vitamin E help to balance thyroid function and maintain thyroid health.

Here is more detailed information on vitamin E intake and its benefit for thyroid gland.

Role of Vitamin E in overall health of body

Vitamin E plays a vital role in various activities of the body.

Its antioxidant property helps prevent specific cancers in the body. It boosts circulation in the extremities and helps maintain cardiovascular health. It also has immunity boosting property.

What is it made of?

Vitamin E is made of eight ingredients, all of them produced by plants. These include tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Tocopherols are formed of side chains that are of saturated form, while tocotrienols have side chains that are unsaturated.

The supplements available in the market are mostly centered aroud the alpha tocopherol category. These do not provide the Vitamin E dose you need. To gain the full benefits of Vitamin E, you need to extract it from supplements of whole food type instead of from synthetic isolates.

It works more effectively when used in combination with other micronutrients such as manganese, fatty acids and selenium.

Vitamin E deficiency

Low Vitamin E levels make you susceptible to various health conditions such as central nervous system disorder, heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin E also helps influence the immune system due to its immune boosting benefit. Deficiency of Vitamin E can influence autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s and Graves’ condition hence it is necessary to ensure proper intake of Vitamin E.

Lower than normal levels of vitamin E deficiency can lead to weakened immune system. The risk of cognitive deterioration and heart disease is also increased. The symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency include

  • Visual disturbances
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Reduction of muscle mass
  • Muscle weakness
  • Dementia
  • Liver and kidney problems

Excessive consumption of Vitamin E can also cause muscle weakness, nausea, diarrhea and fatigue. Bleeding risk is also increased with excess Vitamin E intake.

The proper recommended dose of vitamin E supplementation is 15mg per day for healthy individuals. This amounts to 22.41U.

The maximum amount should not exceed 1,500 IU for adults over 19 years of age.

Thyroid Health and Vitamin E

Vitamin E along with Selenium helps in T4 to T3 conversion.

It acts in a cellular way on thyroid, pituitary and adrenal gland. Vitamin E when taken along with levothyroxine helps to avoid oxidative stress. It also prevents cognitive defects.

Deficiency of vitamin E causes thyroid gland to increase its hormone secretion while the pituitary gland produces very little TSH. For people with overactive thyroid, higher dose of vitamin E is required to balance the large depletion of the vitamin from the body.

Synthetic hormones for thyroid are usually used for thyroid disorder treatment in case of conditions such as hypothyroidism where there is reduced secretion of thyroid hormone due to underactive thyroid. In case of overactive thyroid gland, anti-thyroid medication is provided.

Addition of the appropriate minerals and vitamins is necessary to maintain balance of the hormones produced by the gland.

Oxidative stress and Vitamin E

Vitamin E plays a vital role in preventing oxidative stress. A study on the role of antioxidants in influencing thyroid disorders proves that antioxidants are highly beneficial. Vitamin E also prevents damage caused by free radicals.

Disorder of thyroid gland where antioxidant activity is reduced can be treated effectively when Vitamin E supplementation is provided along with hormonal therapy. The vitamin E supplementation will help provide the protection needed from oxidative stress.

Another 2014 study on the impact of oxidative stress on Thyroid shows an adverse reaction of thyroid to the stress. Increase in levels of T4, T3 and reduced level of TSH were seen.

Thus it is clear that measurement of the levels of TSH, T4 and T3 will help you know about the oxidative stress affecting the thyroid gland.

What is the best source of Vitamin E?

Vitamin E is found in food sources such as wheat germ, almond and hazelnut oils, peanuts, pine nuts and sunflower seeds.

While supplements are available, the best source of the vitamin is consuming it in its natural form via the above mentioned foods.

In supplement form it is best to take vitamin E along with other vitamin and mineral supplements such as Selenium and manganese to gain the full benefit of the vitamin.

A study on Vitamin E in alpha tocopherol supplement form indicates risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Hence it is best to take the vitamin in combined form.

Final Takeaway

Since it is important to keep the thyroid gland functioning normally you need to consider consuming not only the synthetic thyroid hormones but also adjuvants like Vitamin E.

This will ensure the thyroid gland functions optimally.

With risks such as obesity, memory loss and mood alteration increasing due to imbalance in thyroid hormone secretion, it is vital that you aim at retaining the balance.

Taking Vitamin E supplement in adequate dose will help ensure your thyroid functions optimally. Its powerful antioxidant property can provide the needed boost for balancing the thyroid gland.

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