Tired and sluggish? Gaining weight? Maybe you’ve seen ads for certain dietary supplements that purport to rev up metabolism and increase energy by providing vitamins, minerals and herbs that “support the thyroid.” But if you’re tempted to try them, hold on!
Reason: A new study has uncovered the fact that many such “thyroid-boosting” supplements contain dangerous ingredients that can have very serious side effects, especially for the heart—so it’s outrageous that they’re being sold over the counter to unwary consumers. Here’s what you need to watch out for…
SHOCKER OF AN ANALYSIS
Doctors have reported seeing a number of patients who are hyperthyroid, meaning that they have excessively high levels of thyroid hormone in their blood—despite the fact that their thyroid glands seem to be functioning perfectly normally. Some such patients have acknowledged taking nutritional supplements marketed to boost thyroid function or promote weight loss.
To investigate the connection, researchers purchased 10 different over-the-counter supplements (readily available in retail stores and online) that claimed to improve “thyroid health”…provide “thyroid support”…or act as “thyroid supplements.” Five of the products were labeled as herbal supplements. The other five were labeled as containing “raw thyroid” tissue, concentrate or powder from bovine sources—meaning from cow thyroid glands.
In the lab, the researchers analyzed the supplements to see whether they contained actual thyroid hormones—specifically, thyroxine (also called T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), the two hormones that our thyroid glands naturally produce. Every product was tested three times…and to reduce any possible bias, the lab workers conducting the analyses were unaware of the identities of the products they were testing.
What they discovered: Nine of the 10 supplements tested contained at least one of the thyroid hormones…and five of the 10 contained both. Of the five so-called herbal products (which you would expect to contain only herbs), all contained T3 and two also contained T4—even though the package labels did not mention anything about animal thyroid products and even though an animal source is the only way that T3 and T4 could have wound up in the supplements. (For more on supplements that aren’t always what they claim to be, read Are Your Herbal Supplements Contaminated or Fake?)
The products contained varying amounts of the thyroid hormones, but even the smallest dose is clinically significant because it can interfere with the endocrine system’s delicate feedback system that carefully regulates the levels of various hormones that interact with each other. Big concern: Judging by the doses listed on labels, some products contained thyroid hormone amounts even greater (in one case, more than six times greater) than prescription drugs used to treat diagnosed cases of underactive thyroid.
WHAT’S THE HARM?
What’s the big deal about taking these thyroid hormones if our bodies naturally produce them anyway? Plenty. A functioning endocrine system is finely tuned to secrete just the right amount of hormones to maintain homeostasis, or a state of balance. Too much thyroid hormone can lead to atrial fibrillation, a heart-rhythm disorder in which the heart beats chaotically, increasing the risk for stroke and heart failure…congestive heart failure, in which the heart can’t circulate enough blood to meet all of the body’s needs…osteoporosis…anxiety and insomnia. That’s why people who take prescription medication to regulate their thyroid levels are carefully monitored by their doctors.
Bottom line: If you think your thyroid isn’t working as it should—because you feel sluggish, you’re always cold when others around you are not, or you’re gaining weight for no apparent reason—do not simply dose yourself with so-called thyroid-boosting supplements. They can be dangerous and can even trigger thyroid disease in healthy people. Instead, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis—and if you already took any thyroid-boosting supplements, share this information with your doctor. A blood test can reveal whether your thyroid hormone levels are off. If they are, your doctor can help you get them back on track safely…and if they aren’t, you and your doctor can start figuring out what’s really causing your symptoms.