Thyroid Synergy

Thyroid Synergy is a formula, encapsulated product designed to be an all-in-one thyroid support product. This product provides botanical and nutritional enhancement of thyroid hormone production, peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, as well as receptor function and recognition of thyroid hormones. The non-stimulating adaptogenic botanical American ginseng (Panax quinquifolius) has been added to help control variations in cortisol, which can have profound effects on peripheral thyroid hormone conversion, as well as serum blood glucose and insulin levels, inducing dysglycemia and laying the foundation for metabolic syndrome.

Serving Size: 2
Servings Per Container: 60

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin A (Palmitate) 2,000 IU
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin-5-Phosphate) 5 mg
• Iodine (Potassium Iodide) 100 mcg
• Zinc (TRAACS® Zinc Glycinate Chelate) 25 mg
• Selenium (Selenomethionine) 50 mcg
• Copper (TRAACS® Copper Glycinate Chelate) 500 mcg
• Manganese (TRAACS® Manganese Glycinate Chelate) 5 mg
• Chromium (TRAACS® Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate) 50 mcg
• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 200 mg
• American Ginseng Extract ( Panax quinquefolius) (root) 200 mg
  [standardized to contain 5% (10 mg) ginsenosides]
• Forslean® Coleus Forskohli Extract 100 mg
  [standardized to contain 10% (10 mg) forskohlin]

Inactive Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate, rice flour.

This product does not contain: wheat, yeast, soy, gluten, eggs, dairy, corn, artificial colors, flavors, sugars, or preservatives.

Recommended Use
As a dietary supplement, take two capsules per day with meals or as directed by your health care practitioner.

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Coleus forskohli and these medication contraindications:

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS:
Theoretically, concomitant use of forskolin and anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. There is some evidence forskolin can inhibit platelet aggregation and adhesion. Some anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs include abciximab (ReoPro), anagrelide (Agrylin), antithrombin III (Thrombate III), ardeparin (Normiflo), cilostazol (Pletal), clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), dicumarol, dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), eptifibatide (Integrilin), heparin, lepirudin (Refludan), tirofiban (Aggrastat), and warfarin (Coumadin).
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS:
Using forskolin with calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan), nifedipine (Procardia), and diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac) might cause additive coronary vasodilatory effects.
NITRATES:
Using forskolin with nitrates such as nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid, Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat) and isosorbide (Imdur, Isordil, Sorbitrate) might cause additive coronary vasodilatory effects.

SURGERY: Forskolin has antiplatelet effects. Forskolin might cause excessive bleeding if used perioperatively. Discontinue forskolin at least 2 weeks before elective surgical procedures.

Read my notes from expert Dr. Jorge Flechas in a recent seminar interview on Iodine and Thyroid health.

Read customer questions and answers about Thyroid Support on our blog.

Research Review

Nutritional Support for The Thyroid Gland

Like all of our glands, the thyroid gland needs supportive nutrients from food or supplements to act as raw ingredient precursors for its proper function. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone needs to give the cells the message to synthesize Thyroxine. Thyroxine, known as T4, needs to be converted into active T3. Cortisol and insulin levels need to be controlled in order for this to happen successfully and precursors and coenzymes must be available.

SUPPORTIVE HERBS: AMERICAN GINSENG ROOT, COLEUS FORSKOHLI (FORSLEAN®)
The non-stimulating adaptogenic botanical American ginseng (Panex quinquifolius) helps control variations in cortisol, which can have profound deleterious effects on peripheral thyroid hormone conversion, as well as serum blood glucose and insulin levels, inducing dysglycemia and laying the foundation for metabolic syndrome.

WHY IS COLEUS FORSKOHLI EXTRACT NECESSARY FOR THYROID SUPPORT?
Coleus forskohlii is necessary for several reasons. Its active constituent forskohlin is a diterpene from the roots of Coleus forskohli, known to directly activate the adenylate cyclase enzyme and raise cyclic AMP levels in many tissues. This is important because Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) stimulates all steps in the synthesis and secretion of T3 and T4. The first step is the binding of TSH hormone to TSH receptors located on the basal membrane of thyroid epithelial cells, followed by elevation of cyclic AMP levels, and a subsequent cascade of phosphorylation reactions via activation of protein kinase A. The final step is the secretion of thyroid hormones T4 and T3 which again couldn't happen without cAMP. [10] Hypothyroid patients need support in the area of fat metabolism. Coleus is known to reduce adipose assimilation and increase the lipolysis of fats. Coleus aids in the following functions:
1) inhibiting the synthesis of adipose tissue
2) increasing response to lipolytic hormones which are produced in less quantity as we age
3) utilizing stored fat. [10] It may also play a role in aiding the Linda Lizotte, R.D., CDN production of digestive enzymes and supporting the immune system, both being helpful for hypothyroid patients.

TYROSINE, COPPER AND COLEUS FORSKOHLI
Cyclic AMP and copper, as well as tyrosine, are involved also in the production of "feel good" catecholamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine. This could be very helpful since hypothyroid patients are so susceptible to depression. [10] Cyclic AMP is also a key player in regulating steroid hormone synthesis. These hormones include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone and depend on cholesterol for their making. [10] Women with hypothyroidism can have very severe PMS.

CHROMIUM, ZINC AND MANGANESE
These minerals are needed for thyroid support to help control insulin since insulin blocks phosphorylation and therefore opposes the action of epinephrine and can impede thyroid hormone production. [10] Chromium also helps to control cholesterol levels that often elevate in hypothyroid patients as well as control blood sugar levels which are challenged by poor adrenal and thyroid gland health.

FOLIC ACID
Hypothyroidism is associated with elevation of homocysteine as well as cholesterol. Folic acid has been shown to contribute to homocysteine normalization while thyroid metabolism is improving. [11] These two phenomena are apparently related, as it has been found that restoring thyroid levels to normal through supplementation with thyroid hormones significantly reduces serum homocysteine levels - a desirable outcome. In one study, for example, it was found that normalizing thyroid hormone levels in 14 hypothyroid patients sharply reduced their homocysteine levels, with a median drop of 44%. [11] Folic acid is also highly recommended for pregnant women for preventing birth defects. Babies born to hypothyroid mothers have increased incidence of birth defects.

N-ACETYL L-TYROSINE AND IODINE
Tyrosine and iodine are intimately involved in the synthesis of Thyroxine. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is much more stable and better absorbed than L-Tyrosine. Vitamin B2 supports these enzymatic conversions. A lack of iodine is a known contributing cause of goiter. Potassium iodide has been shown to protect the thyroid gland from radiation damage. [1] Potassium levels are often low in patients with poor thyroid and poor adrenal function. Potassium is necessary for getting thyroid hormone into our cells and is very energizing.

SELENIUM
Selenium is a key cofactor in the enzymatic conversion (ID-I enzyme) of T4, thyroxine hormone, to the more active T3, triiodothyronine. Selenium also protects the thyroid gland from mercury damage and from free radical damage caused by chemicals and heavy metals. Selenium helps to make the powerfully protective enzyme glutathione peroxidase. A study looked at how selenium deficiency affected ID-I enzyme (I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase) levels in the body. Selenium deficient rats had the following results: 1). Hepatic and renal ID-I activities decreased by 60% and 50% respectively, serum levels of T3 reduced 36%, and T4 increased by 32%. 2). GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase) activities in the whole blood and liver decreased by 61% and 82% respectively. LPO (lipid peroxide) concentrations in serum and liver increased by 53% and 40% respectively. [3] The results of a Graves' disease study clearly indicated that supplementation with antioxidants in the treatment of Graves' disease is justified, particularly those containing selenium. [5]

VITAMIN A, ZINC AND SELENIUM
Studies tell us that TTR (Transthyretin) an extracellular transfer protein in humans is responsible for binding both T4 and T3 with a preference for T4. This protein also binds vitamin A known to be important for Thyroid function. TTR is an extra cellular transport protein involved in the distribution of thyroid hormones and vitamin A. Hypothyroid patients often have a yellow-orange coloring to their skin because of very poor conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A. [6] Zinc is needed for this conversion. Significantly lower levels of zinc and selenium are found in the thyroids of patients with thyroid cancer compared to other thyroid patients. [7] Zinc is likely as potent a thyroid antioxidant as selenium is. Both of these minerals protect against heavy metals.

Q: CAN SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION HELP THYROIDITIS?

A: Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland. The most common type is autoimmune thyroiditis, in which, for complicated reasons, the body attacks the thyroid gland, decreasing its production of thyroid hormones. Selenium appears to have two essential functions related to thyroid health. First, it is a component of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione peroxidase. If selenium is unavailable, this enzyme does not work as effectively. Since glutathione peroxidase helps to quench free radicals, lowered activity may result in increased free-radical generation and increased damage to an already inflamed thyroid gland. Second, selenium is a key cofactor in the enzymatic conversion of thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) to the more active triiodothyronine (T3) making selenium important for healthy thyroid function. In two recent studies, researchers tested this idea by giving subjects T4 with or without selenium supplements. In both studies the combined supplementation of T4 and selenium, compared with T4 only, was beneficial in decreasing the autoimmune-induced inflammation as measured by antibodies against thyroid peroxidase, particularly in those with very high antibody levels. [12] These two studies do show selenium is helpful and well-tolerated at the dose of 200 mcg daily. [12,13]

Click here to download Nutrition for Thyroid PDF file

References:
1. Cancer. 2003 Jul 15;98(2):389-96. Improved radiation protection of the thyroid gland with thyroxine, methimazole, and potassium iodide during diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine in children with neuroblastoma. van Santen HM, de Kraker J, van Eck BL, de Vijlder JJ, Vulsma T.
2. Ter Arkh. 2003;75(10):54-7. Iodine prophylaxis in pregnant women living in conditions of goiter endemia.
3. Chin Med J (Engl). 1998 Sep;111(9):854-7. Changes of peripheral tissue thyroid hormone metabolism in rats fed with selenium- and vitamin E-deficient artificial semisynthetic diet. Yue L, Wang F, Li G.
4. J Biol Chem. 2004 Apr 13. High-resolution crystal structures of piscine transthyretin reveal different binding modes for triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Eneqvist T, Lundberg E, Karlsson A, Huang S, Santos CR, Power DM, Sauer-Eriksson EA.
5. Clin Chim Acta. 2004 Mar;341(1-2):55-63. Supplementation with antioxidants in the treatment of Graves' disease; the effect on glutathione peroxidase activity and concentration of selenium. Vrca VB, Skreb F, Cepelak I, Romic Z, Mayer L.
6. Acta Med Austriaca. 1993;20(1-2):17-20. Beta-carotene, vitamin A and carrier proteins in thyroid diseases. Aktuna D, Buchinger W, Langsteger W, Meister E, Sternad H, Lorenz O, Eber O.
7. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2003 Summer;93(1-3):9-18. Copper, zinc, and selenium in whole blood and thyroid tissue of people with various thyroid diseases. Kucharzewski M, Braziewicz J, Majewska U, Gozdz S.
8. Inorg Chem. 1997 Dec 3;36(25):5777-5784. Weak Interactions in Ternary Copper(II) Complexes with Iodotyrosinates. Biological Significance of the Iodines in Thyroid Hormones. Zhang F, Yajima T, Masuda H, Odani A, Yamauchi O.
9. Biol Trace Elem Res. 1992 Jan-Mar;32:173-85. Clinical implications of trace elements in endocrinology. Neve J.
10. Fifth Edition Textbook of Biochemistry by Thomas Devlin. p. 880, 883
11. Hussein WI, Green R, Jacobsen DW, Faiman C. Normalization of hyperhomocysteinemia with L-thyroxine in hypothyroidism. Ann Intern Med 1999 Sep 7;131(5):348-51.
12. Gartner R, et al. Selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis decreases thyroid peroxidase antibodies concentrations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Apr;87(4):1687-91.
13. Duntas LH, et al. Effects of a six-month treatment with selenomethionine in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Eur J Endocrinol 2003 Apr;148(4):389-93.