The biochemical actions of hormones accurately reflect the word’s original translation from the Greek orµn, which literally means ‘to set in motion’. Far more than merely chemical messengers, hormones are generated by the glands to be the initiating forces that stimulate a cascade of biological activity resonating throughout the entire body. Of these, none are more critical than the hormones produced by the thyroid glands.

Thyroid hormones are universally important, playing central roles in the healthy function of the human cardiovascular, nervous, muscular and skeletal systems, and their effects extend to the health of bowels and even skin, nails and hair. The thyroid gland is the primary regulator of the body’s metabolic rate. Hypothyroidism is a medical condition defined by the insufficient production of thyroid by the thyroid gland. However, in recent decades a less severe – but more widespread – version of the condition known as subclinical hypothyroidism has been identified. Subclinical hypothyroidism, although not officially recognized by conventional medicine, affects up to 15% of the elderly and can lead to fatigue, weight gain, cardiovascular disturbances, oversensitivity to cold, dry skin, brittle nails, constipation and overall weakness and depression. For these reasons, measures taken to ensure the optimum vitality of one’s thyroid production can be invaluable, and such measures (which would augment a balanced diet) can be achieved most efficiently through proper supplementation.

This supplementation would include the basic thyroid necessities of tyrosine and iodine. The former is an amino acid that is an essential precursor for triiodothyronine (or T3, the most powerful thyroid hormone, affecting almost every bodily process, including body temperature, heart rate, and metabolic growth) as well as thyroxine (or T4, which plays a ‘supporting’ role to T3). T3 is four to ten times more biologically active than T4. The gland secretes mostly T4 but most of this T4 is converted to T3 in the periphery and around 80% of the circulating T3 is derived from T4. T4 is converted to T3 through the removal of one iodine molecule in the liver, spleen or the kidneys. Only the unbound thyroid hormones can access target cell receptors, and less than 1% of circulating T3 and 0.1% of T4 is unbound. Iodine, on the other hand, is an essential mineral that actually forms part of the atomic composition of both T3 and T4. One-quarter of the body’s entire iodine supply is found in the thyroid gland. Some substances, such as the flavonoid myricetin, are known to increase iodine uptake. In fact, one study demonstrated myricetin to be capable of increasing iodine retention by approximately 42%, a level significantly greater than the other flavonoids tested.

The Ayurvedic herb Coleus Forskohlii, and its active constituent Forskolin, has demonstrated its ability to raise the production and release of thyroid hormones in animal and in-vitro studies. Indeed, such studies have revealed that coleus forskohlii does this by stimulating adenylate cyclase, which in turn produces cyclic adenosine mono phosphate (cAMP), an important regulator of cellular function, energy expediture and a hormonal response modifier. Studies have shown that cells from hypothyroid rats produce less cAMP. cAMP is an important redox agent with attributes similar to ATP, CoQ10 and NADH. Coleus forskohlii is especially useful in cases of hypothyroidism because it increases thyroid hormone production and release.

Bacopa monniera is a plant extract of the water hyssop, a plant valued in India for its neuroprotective activity and its ability to enhance cognitive function. Studies in male mice showed that Bacopa possesses powerful thyroid stimulating effects, increasing T4 concentration by 41% after supplementation for 15 days.

Finally, the essential minerals zinc, copper, and selenium also play fundamental roles in the maintenance of healthy thyroid function.

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