Thyroid and Bones

The Thyroid and Bones

Thyroid and those four tiny glands nestled alongside your thyroid (called the parathyroids) play an important role in preventing osteoporosis. The parathyroid hormones' (PTH) role is to maintain proper blood levels of calcium. When calcium levels drop, PTH increases, sometimes robbing your bones of calcium in order to replenish your blood—kind of like robbing Peter to pay Paul. The problem is that this creative calcium banking can thin out your bones. Thyroxine, your thyroid hormone, also removes minerals from your bones to keep serum levels up. Excessive levels of thyroxine, a potential problem with women taking thyroid medication, can cause too much bone depletion.

Lita Lee, Ph.D., stresses it is important to understand that high thyroid function alone does not contribute to bone loss. Low thyroid hormone, or thyroxine, levels can also disrupt bone regrowth by disturbing progesterone production. Raymond Peat, Ph.D., explains that your ovaries need cholesterol, Vitamin A and thyroxine to make progesterone. Thyroxine stimulates the synthesis of cholesterol, the raw material needed to make progesterone and other steroid hormones. So if your thyroid is not functioning at full capacity, there will not be adequate progesterone production. The bottom line, says Dr. Peat, is that your liver and thyroid need to be taken care of for healthy bones. Menopause is a prime time for thyroid problems.

Dr. Peat suggests a list of foods to avoid for women with low thyroid function. He believes simply eliminating these foods alone may bring thyroid hormones up to normal levels. Foods to avoid: All unsaturated vegetable oils, foods in the cabbage and mustard family - especially eaten raw; peanuts, cashews and lentils - because of unsaturated oils and other chemical constituents. Raw cabbage foods and nuts can interfere with iodine's role in thyroxine production, thereby creating low thyroid hormone levels.

Dr. Peat is also a great believer in coconut oil, which he says is "excellent for the thyroid." One to two tablespoons of coconut oil daily added to scrambled eggs or milk shakes, or used instead of butter, and a sluggish thyroid will jump into gear. You may even find you lose weight. Milk and orange juice are also pro-thyroid foods, claims Dr. Peat. Many women, in an attempt to solve their hormonal problems, use treatments that have an anti-thyroid effect. Therapies such as dong quai, evening primrose oil and borage oil should be avoided if you have low thyroid function, advises Dr. Peat.

Please note that there can be other causes. This is for education only. It is not intended to treat, prevent or cure a medical disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult a health care professional .