Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
Which nutrients influence thyroid function?
Leung: The micronutrient most understood in relation to thyroid health is iodine, since it is transported into the thyroid follicular cell as a requirement in the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway. The U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iodine is 150 µg per day in adults, and 220 µg per day and 290 µg per day in pregnant and lactating women, respectively. Dietary sources of iodine include iodized salt, seafood (including seaweed and fish), and some breads and grains.
Selenium is a micronutrient that may be important for thyroid hormone metabolism. The U.S. RDA of selenium in men and nonpregnant, nonlactating women is 55 µg. Foods containing the highest amounts of dietary selenium are seafood and organ meats, but more common sources in the U.S. diet would be breads, grains, meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Brazil nuts are also rich in selenium, and a single nut provides up to 140 µg. However, the thyroid contains the highest amount of selenium in the body, so thyroid function is unlikely to be adversely affected even in situations of selenium deficiency. Thus, selenium supplementation is not standardly recommended for the purposes of maintaining thyroid health, with the exception of individuals with mild active Graves’ eye disease. In these patients, 200 µg of daily selenium is recommended as a 6-month trial.
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Leung: The micronutrient most understood in relation to thyroid health is iodine, since it is transported into the thyroid follicular cell as a requirement in the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway. The U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iodine is 150 µg per day in adults, and 220 µg per day and 290 µg per day in pregnant and lactating women, respectively. Dietary sources of iodine include iodized salt, seafood (including seaweed and fish), and some breads and grains.
Selenium is a micronutrient that may be important for thyroid hormone metabolism. The U.S. RDA of selenium in men and nonpregnant, nonlactating women is 55 µg. Foods containing the highest amounts of dietary selenium are seafood and organ meats, but more common sources in the U.S. diet would be breads, grains, meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Brazil nuts are also rich in selenium, and a single nut provides up to 140 µg. However, the thyroid contains the highest amount of selenium in the body, so thyroid function is unlikely to be adversely affected even in situations of selenium deficiency. Thus, selenium supplementation is not standardly recommended for the purposes of maintaining thyroid health, with the exception of individuals with mild active Graves’ eye disease. In these patients, 200 µg of daily selenium is recommended as a 6-month trial.
More here
