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Hashimoto's and Magnesium Deficiency
Hashimoto's disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States 1. This autoimmune disease causes an underactive thyroid. Magnesium often is recommended by nutritionists as a nutrient that supports thyroid function. If you suspect you are deficient in magnesium, consult your health-care provider for a proper diagnosis and to determine if supplements are warranted 5.
Hashimoto's Disease
Hashimoto's disease most often affects middle-aged women 1. However, this disease, also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, also can affect men. With Hashimoto’s, your thyroid becomes inflamed because your immune system makes antibodies that attack your thyroid cells. This inflammation frequently leads to an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism.
- Hashimoto's disease most often affects middle-aged women 1.
- However, this disease, also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, also can affect men.
Magnesium Significance
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Your thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4. These regulate how your body uses energy. When your thyroid is underactive, these thyroid hormone levels become too low. Magnesium is important for thyroid support because your body needs it to activate T4 hormone into T3, according to “The Natural Hormone Makeover,” by physician Phuli Cohan 2.
- Your thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4.
- Magnesium is important for thyroid support because your body needs it to activate T4 hormone into T3, according to “The Natural Hormone Makeover,” by physician Phuli Cohan 2.
Supplementation and Considerations
In case of deficiency, magnesium supplementation sometimes helps alleviate some of the symptoms of thyroid disease, according to “Principles of Orthomolecularism,” by urologist R. Hemat 3. However, always consult a doctor to determine a treatment plan for your Hashimoto's disease 1. If you do not have evidence of hormone deficiency, your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach. However, you may need replacement therapy with thyroid hormone, according to MayoClinic.com. If not properly treated, your symptoms of underactive thyroid may worsen. Untreated hypothyroidism can cause numerous problems including infertility, high cholesterol, miscarriage and birthing a baby with birth defects. Rarely it can cause seizures, heart failure, coma or death, according to WomensHealth.gov.
- In case of deficiency, magnesium supplementation sometimes helps alleviate some of the symptoms of thyroid disease, according to “Principles of Orthomolecularism,” by urologist R. Hemat 3.
- However, you may need replacement therapy with thyroid hormone, according to MayoClinic.com.
Amounts and Deficiency Signs
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Nutritionists who recommend magnesium supplementation advise taking varying doses to support thyroid function, from 200 milligrams twice daily for a total of 400 milligrams to a daily dose of 800 milligrams. Consult a health-care provider to determine what dose of supplemental magnesium, if any, is appropriate for you. The recommended daily intake for magnesium is 310 milligrams daily if you are female and 400 milligrams if you are male, up to age 30. At age 31 and over, the recommendation is 320 milligrams for women and 420 milligrams for men.
Early signs of magnesium deficiency include appetite loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and weakness. Later signs include tingling, muscle cramps and contractions, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms. Certain medications, including diuretics and antibiotics, raise your risk for magnesium deficiency. Age, malabsorptive problems like gluten-sensitive enteropathy and other factors, like low calcium or potassium levels, also your raise risk.
- Nutritionists who recommend magnesium supplementation advise taking varying doses to support thyroid function, from 200 milligrams twice daily for a total of 400 milligrams to a daily dose of 800 milligrams.
- At age 31 and over, the recommendation is 320 milligrams for women and 420 milligrams for men.
Related Articles
References
- MayoClinic.com: Hashimoto's Disease
- The Natural Hormone Makeover; Phuli Cohan
- Principles of Orthomolecularism; R. Hemat
- Krispin.com: Thyroid Disease Support Information
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium
- Uma P, Kartheek B, Himaja S, Lekha J, Babu A, Lakshmi A. Lymphocytic thyroiditis: a correlation of cytological grades with clinical, biochemical and ultrasound findings. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 2013;1(4):523. doi:10.5455/2320-6012.ijrms20131138.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hashimoto's Disease. Sept 1, 2017.
- Mincer DL, Jialal I. Hashimoto Thyroiditis. StatPearls [Internet]; 2019.
- Harvard Health Publishing. The lowdown on thyroid slowdown. Harvard Health. Mar 19, 2019.
- MedlinePlus. Levothyroxine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. Feb 15, 2019.
- Boelaert K, Newby PR, Simmonds MJ, et al. Prevalence and relative risk of other autoimmune diseases in subjects with autoimmune thyroid disease. Am J Med. 2010;123(2):183.e1-9. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.06.030
- Cleveland Clinic. Hashimoto’s Disease. Updated October 23, 2017.
- Eleftheriou P, Kynigopoulos S, Giovou A. Prevalence of Anti-Neu5Gc Antibodies in Patients with Hypothyroidism. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 963230. DOI: 10.1155/2014/963230.
- Mayo Clinic. Hashimoto’s Disease. Published March 3, 2018.
- Medline Plus. Levothyroxine. Updated July 15, 2017.
- Mincer DL, Jialal I. Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Updated October 27, 2018.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Hashimoto’s Disease. Updated September 2017.
- Office of Women’s Health. Hashimoto’s Disease. Updated October 18, 2018.
- Sawicka-Gutaj N, Gutaj P, Sowiński J, et. al. Influence of cigarette smoking on thyroid gland--an update. Endokrynol Pol. 2014;65(1):54-62. DOI: 10.5603/EP.2014.0008.
Writer Bio
Linda Tarr Kent is a reporter and editor with more than 20 years experience at Gannett Company Inc., The McClatchy Company, Sound Publishing Inc., Mach Publishing, MomFit The Movement and other companies. Her area of expertise is health and fitness. She is a Bosu fitness and stand-up paddle surfing instructor. Kent holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Washington State University.