11 Supplements to Help Manage Hyperthyroidism

11 Supplements to Help Manage Hyperthyroidism

Certain supplements have the potential to reduce inflammation and treat autoimmunity. 

This is extremely important for hyperthyroid patients when you consider that, in most cases, hyperthyroidism is caused by an autoimmune condition known as Graves’ disease. 

Learn more about how to supplement for hyperthyroidism and what you can do to take control of your symptoms in this guide: 

Do supplements Actually help patients with Hyperthyroidism & Graves’ Disease? 

Yes! Supplements can absolutely help you treat your hyperthyroidism. 

Having said that you need to be realistic:

While taking these supplements won’t cure your disease state, they can certainly help with your symptoms and, if coupled with other changes, may dramatically improve your quality of life.

And that’s really what we are after.

So which supplements should you consider using?

The first step is to consider what kind of disease hyperthyroidism is.

a schematic showing how graves' disease starts and impacts various tissues in the body.

If you’ve read the research you will know that around 90% of patients with hyperthyroidism have an autoimmune condition known as Grave’s disease (1).

This is also true for hypothyroidism, by the way, about 90% of hypothyroid patients have an autoimmune disease known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (2).

The fact that hyperthyroidism is usually caused by autoimmune disease is VERY important because it means we can target your immune system to help improve your condition.

What you may not realize is that autoimmune disease is a manifestation of other problems in your body. 

Why?

Because several factors have been shown to be involved in the cascade that leads to autoimmune disease, things such as stressful situations (3), nutrient deficiencies, and changes to your gut.

This is why so many people focus on therapies targeting your GI tract when treating autoimmune diseases.

If we can take supplements that target these pathways we can cool down the inflammation and autoimmunity in the body and reduce the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (and really treat the disease itself).

Make sense?

Now when it comes to hyperthyroid patients this is a little bit more complicated than that, though.

Why?

Because many patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism eventually undergo thyroidectomy or RAI which effectively destroys their thyroid gland.

This means they switch from being hyperthyroid to hypothyroid, and this change also means that you need to use different supplements.

If you’ve had a thyroidectomy or RAI as a result of your hyperthyroidism then you can find relevant supplements in this post.

If you still have your thyroid then please keep reading!

Our goal with these supplements will be to take you from a relapsed state to remission, and that is possible in some patients if they follow these steps completely.

a flowchart showing the treatment options for hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.

Using these supplements can help prevent the removal of your thyroid gland or undergoing RAI.

And this is a good thing considering so many patients who undergo these treatments suffer from debilitating weight gain and other problems.

Let’s talk about which supplements help hyperthyroid patients and which ones you should consider using:

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#1. Probiotics (Broad Spectrum with High CFU Count)

The first supplement we need to talk about is probiotics. 

Why?

It turns out that autoimmune disease may originate (in many cases but not all) in your GI tract.

Various factors (including stress, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, etc.) can damage the intestinal lining of your gut – the tight junctions.

This lining is meant to act as a barrier that allows the absorption of good materials and prevents other more sinister materials from being absorbed.

When damage occurs the lining in your GI tract becomes compromised resulting in the absorption of bacteria and/or undigested proteins which can trigger autoimmune disease. 

This process by which this occurs is known as molecular mimicry.

The breakdown of the lining of your GI tract is known as increased intestinal permeability or leaky gut. 

So where do probiotics fit in?

Probiotics and prebiotics can help improve the structure of your GI tract and reduce the permeability of these tight junctions.

Probiotics also help to reduce inflammation and act to balance intestinal microflora leading to a healthy population of gut bacteria.

What about prebiotics?

Prebiotics are designed to help HEALTHY bacteria grow and really act as a food store for these little guys.

Probiotics themselves directly act to help populate your GI tract while prebiotics promotes the growth of new healthy bacteria.

a figure depicting how healthy and unhealthy gut impacts the brain-gut connection.

You can see the connection between your brain, GI tract, and intestinal function in the image above. 

What you need to realize here is that while probiotics are helpful in improving GI function you may need more therapies than just this supplement.

For instance, many patients with autoimmune diseases also suffer from inflammatory conditions such as IBS or SIBO/yeast overgrowth.

The probiotics I recommend below are safe to use in these conditions and should be the first place to start.

#2. Zinc

Next on the list is Zinc. 

Zinc makes this list for hyperthyroid patients because it has some special features that make it stand out.

First:

Zinc has been shown to balance the immune system and it’s required for optimal immune function (4).

Many patients are zinc deficient due to diet or other factors, so getting adequate zinc is helpful if you are suffering from autoimmune diseases like Graves’.

Second:

Zinc acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. 

Again, this is helpful from the immune perspective because autoimmune diseases are a combination of altered immunity and inflammation.

Taking zinc can cool down the body and reduce inflammation (5).

Third:

It can actually balance thyroid hormone function (which is especially helpful if you are in the 50% of hyperthyroid patients who suffer from weight gain).

Zinc has been shown to normalize the T4 to T3 conversion process (6).

Believe it or not many hyperthyroid patients actually suffer from weight gain, and this supplement can improve that.

#3. Vitamin D3

Vitamin D (specifically vitamin D3) should almost be standard if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease. 

Why?

Because it has been shown that low levels of Vitamin D can exacerbate and even cause hyperthyroidism to begin with.

In addition, these studies have also shown that taking Vitamin D3 may be able to reverse the condition (7).

That’s very powerful information and something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

It has also been shown that hyperthyroid patients with Graves’ disease show a low level of Vitamin D3 at baseline (8) compared to other patient populations. 

If you have Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism you need to get your vitamin D levels evaluated and take a D3 supplement (the active form). 

Low levels of Vitamin D have been shown to increase the risk of developing an autoimmune disease and in the specific case of hyperthyroidism may be able to reverse it.

Check your serum levels and treat to a level of around 50ng/mL. 

#4. Fish Oil

Next up is Fish oil.

Fish oil is incredibly helpful for patients with hyperthyroidism because it’s a very potent anti-inflammatory agent (9).

Reducing inflammation is critical to normalize thyroid function due to immune issues. 

As inflammation increases, thyroid function becomes abnormal, leading to conversion problems and promoting antibody production.

Taking fish oil helps reduce this cycle.

Oh, and fish oil has also been shown to help with weight loss which is a definite plus for many hyperthyroid patients who suffer from weight gain.

The combination of fish oil plus exercise has been proven to reduce fat stores in the body and increase lean muscle mass

If you decide to take fish oil I recommend a very high-quality product that also contains astaxanthin which further increases the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil. 

graph showing how fish oil can help with weight loss compared to other oils.

#5. Magnesium

Magnesium makes the list because many hyperthyroid patients are also magnesium deficient.

In fact, it has been shown that thyroid dysregulation increases magnesium excretion from the kidneys (10) which means that thyroid patients are especially prone to developing a magnesium deficiency. 

Couple that with the fact that magnesium is involved in proper immune function (11) and it’s easy to see why this supplement might be helpful.

Beyond its benefits to the immune function, magnesium is also involved in over 300 cellular processes so normal levels are necessary for optimal living.

If you take magnesium, make sure to take the right form of magnesium.

In this case, I recommend using magnesium bound to glycinate which will increase absorption and improve outcomes. 

#6. Low Dose Iodine

Iodine makes the list because iodine can be used as a therapeutic agent in TREATING hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.

High doses of iodine have been shown to reduce thyroid production and alter thyroid conversion in the periphery.

This effect is on par with other pharmaceutical interventions and can be used as a natural treatment over these prescription medications.

figure outlining how thyroid hormone is created and released back into the bloodstream in the thyroid gland.

In fact, iodine was used prior to the discovery of newer medications for treating hyperthyroidism.

Using iodine in this way can allow you to take control of other aspects that may have triggered your autoimmune disease (Graves’) and allow you to treat those without undergoing RAI or thyroidectomy.

In order to get this effect, you must use high doses of iodine, but I don’t recommend doing this without the supervision of a physician.

You can read more about iodine supplementation here.

#7. Adrenal Support

Adrenal adaptogens are very important for any patient with thyroid-related issues. 

Why?

Because adrenal function is closely tied to thyroid function.

Studies have shown this relationship.

What’s important for you to understand is that these changes to cortisol and adrenal function may manifest as the subjective symptom of fatigue or low energy.

Many patients with hyperthyroidism (Graves’) or hypothyroidism commonly present with fatigue.

This is felt to be, at least in part, due to changes in cortisol levels.

Taking adrenal adaptogens has been shown to normalize cortisol levels and many patients report an increase in symptoms when taking these supplements.

In addition, adrenal adaptogens help your body tolerate stress, help with weight loss, and can improve sleeping patterns (12).

Taking an adrenal adaptogen or adrenal supplement should be the baseline for anyone with hyperthyroidism or any thyroid problem. 

Really, any combination of adaptogens can work but I personally recommend using ashwagandha.

Many patients have been told to avoid ashwagandha because it can be stimulating but my experience suggests that it is very well-tolerated and almost always helpful.

Rarely, some people can get overstimulated when using it, though, so you should be aware of that prior to supplementing with it.

If you’d prefer, you can also try other adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, holy basil, aloe vera, cordyceps, Chaga, and so on.

#8. Selenium

Selenium is an important nutrient for anyone with hyperthyroidism because one of its primary functions is to protect the thyroid gland from inflammation.

It does this by helping your body produce the master antioxidant known as glutathione.

Selenium is also required for a number of other enzymes involved in thyroid function known as selenoproteins.

We also have evidence to suggest that those with hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease) have lower than normal selenium levels.

When selenium levels are low the thyroid gland remains unprotected from oxidative stress and is more susceptible to autoimmune damage from thyroid antibodies.

This reason alone is enough to warrant the exploration of selenium supplements.

Beyond its protective impact on the thyroid gland, though, we also have evidence to suggest that selenium has the potential to improve treatment outcomes in patients taking methimazole.

When supplementing with selenium, keep your dose around the range of 75mcg to 150mcg from all sources (including the combination of food and supplements).

This will ensure that you don’t push yourself into the territory of excess selenium levels which can cause problems.

#10. Bugleweed (Lycopus) & Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

The last two supplements listed here are really specialty-type supplements that work in a different way compared to those we have discussed already.

They have specific actions that, when used correctly, may help to manage hyperthyroidism at the level of thyroid function.

Here’s what I mean:

There have been studies that show that both of these herbs have the potential to block TSH production of TSH and thyroid-stimulating antibodies (13).

Part of this effect stems from their ability to block T4 to T3 conversion in peripheral tissues.

The net effect of all of these is that thyroid hormone levels fall.

In essence, they work as sort of a weaker and more natural version of methimazole.

The only problem?

They don’t always work equally well in every patient which means that some people will see bigger effects than others.

When they do work, though, they seem to work quite well.

There have been a handful of documented case studies as well as anecdotal patient experiences to suggest that these herbs have the potential to replace anti-thyroid medications in certain situations.

Just because this may be a possibility, though, doesn’t mean you should run out and try it without physician supervision, especially if you are already taking anti-thyroid medication like methimazole.

Never make any changes to your thyroid medications as doing so can lead to serious problems from the hyperthyroid state.

#11. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiac L.)

If bugleweed acts like methimazole then you can think of motherwort as something which is loosely similar to a beta blocker in terms of its impact on the body.

Motherwort has been shown to help block some of the extrathyroidal symptoms that patients with hyperthyroidism experience including symptoms like rapid heart rate and heart palpitations.

You will often find both motherwort and bugleweed used together as a sort of natural concoction to treat hyperthyroidism either in place of medications like methimazole and propranolol or in combination with these medications.

Much like bugleweed, though, motherwort doesn’t work in every situation and is not intended for long-term use.

If you are planning on using this herb for symptomatic control then you should also be utilizing other therapies in an attempt to try and reverse your condition so they are no longer needed.

And just like bugleweed, don’t use motherwort in place of your medication without physician supervision.

You can see two case studies from patients that were successfully treated for hyperthyroidism using a combination of both of these herbs here (13).

Final Thoughts

Supplements, if combined with other lifestyle factors, can dramatically improve thyroid function in hyperthyroid patients.

Your goal should be to target your supplementation to specific deficiencies in your body.

That being said certain supplements can almost be considered “standard” for hyperthyroid patients given that this hormone imbalance leads to certain deficiencies.

Now it’s your turn:

Are you suffering from hyperthyroidism?

Have supplements helped reduce your symptoms or improve your condition?

Why or why not?

Leave your comment below!

Scientific References

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474632/

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080848/

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18190880

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277319/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429650/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23960398

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133032/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4446781/

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16531187

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292768/

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3075245

#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/

#13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8090196/

7 hyperthyroid supplements you should be taking pinterest image.

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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30 thoughts on “11 Supplements to Help Manage Hyperthyroidism”

  1. Hello Dr Child’s,

    I’ve been reading your posts and am very interested in being treated by either you, or a colleague of yours in the Dallas area. I live in Allen, TX so if you know of someone who practices the same way as you, could you provide me with a name?

    I’ve was DX with hypothyroidism about 10 years ago and still struggle with finding a balance. I am on both Nature Throid and Synthroid to regulate T3 and T4. I was DX with adrenal fatigue in 2010, and still struggle with that. 2013 I had a total abdominal Hysterectomy and have been on BioTE pellets for the past 4 years, but still cannot find the right dose for estrogen and testosterone which both throw off my thyroid and hormones.

    I can relate to all that you have posted, including the up and down of my weight.

    Please let me know who you recommend in the Dallas area, or let me know if I can get an apt with you. I will make the trip to see you.

    Thanks,
    Nicole

    Reply
    • Hi Nicole,

      I’m not taking patients at this time, but I am working with another Doctor who will be taking patients within the next few months or so. Unfortunately, I can’t direct you to any other physicians who practice in this way because I don’t know any.

      Reply
  2. Hi Dr. Childs,
    I was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism by my doctor because my TSH was 1.44 and that was the only thyroid test she did. I’ve been reading a lot of your posts, one of them being “Top Symptoms of Hypothyroidism,” and I have almost all of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and not as many for hyperthyroidism. Is it possible to have low TSH and still have hypothyroidism?
    Thanks,
    Raechell

    Reply
  3. Hi Dr.Childs,

    If I’m on hyperthyroid medication(methimazole) Can I also take these supplements? Will it help or interfere with the medication?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  4. I really enjoyed reading all this information that you provided I am two months pregnant with graves disease I am on PTU is it safe if I take the supplements as well ?

    Reply
    • Hi Nikolett,

      Yes! These supplements are meant to be used in conjunction with other therapies. You should really stay on top of TSH testing if you are both pregnant and taking PTU. Thyroid hormone is required for proper fetal neurodevelopment and some studies show correlation between lower IQ babies and higher TSH levels.

      Reply
      • I will ok the supplements with my OBGYN and start them I truly believe that I can get better and on the road to remission. I’m lucky I don’t have crazy symptoms, my hand shaking is under control, my energy is gteat, I sleep great. So I have made progress I just have to get the high levels to a normal state. But I truly think that my problem is the lack of supplements. At one
        Point I took Acyle l- carnatine and my levels actually stayed normal for a long time. Unfortunately my current endo doesn’t believe in supplements so I’m on my own. I appriciate your information and I will try the supplements .

        Reply
  5. I have hyperthyroid and I am certain it was my zinc supplentation that caused my hyperthyroid. Zinc competes with copper in absorption and I’ve read that it speeds up the thyroid whereas copper does the opposite. Copper supplementation has helped me greatly with my hyperthyroid. I do need to start supplementing with vit D as you suggested.

    Reply
  6. Hi Dr.Childs
    Was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 2 years ago.At the time of diagnoses, methimazole was prescribed and during the 2 year period, the daily dose has been readjusted several times. At this writing, there are concerns on my part that something is going on because of a sudden loss of weight, blurry vision, dry skin etc. Also, I’ve been on a prescription for Omeprazole for 5 years at least. A blood draw 2 weeks ago indicated a low TSH level.Have an appointment with my thyroid doctor May 30th. Is there something I can do in the mean-time to help my situation?—–Looking For Help

    Reply
  7. My son recently had blood work because of weight loss and anxiety and a little trouble focusing. His Free T3 came back high (7.58) and TSH slight low (0.838). They do not want to treat this and I believe this is why he cannot gain weight and is experiencing some anxiety. Do you feel supplements will help?

    Reply
  8. I have hyperthyroid I research a lot and I’m always reading hyperthyroid should avoid iodine , Or foods with high In iodine , I am getting really confused on this

    Reply
    • Hi Rhonda,

      All humans need iodine regardless of which thyroid condition you have. Iodine can even be therapeutic in the case of hyperthyroidism.

      Reply
      • I was just diagnosed with Graves and hyperthyroidism and was told by my endo that I shouldn’t eat any shellfish due to Iodine contained in those foods. He also told me not to have any CT scans or MRI with iodine in the contrast or I could have a thyroid storm that could be life threatening to me. I am taking methimazole 5mg. I also am looking for supplements to take and I appreciate your valued information. The endo did approve of my taking selenium 200 mcg.

        Reply
  9. Hello Dr. I,m 67 years young who have a hyperthyroidism and i’ve taking “Methimazole”since 2019. I lost around 5 lbs all over a sudden around April/2019. I wouldn’t mind loss of my weight, however at a low energy level makes my daily life fatigue most of day, and not much enjoys foods what i used to eat. I am very exciting what i found you, and i decided to take some your supplements order to gain some
    energy and active life style. I have learned a lot about “thyroidism”. I am very greatful to Dr.Childs. All your educational information made my eyes a big. I must say to you that you are much better than my own a specialist. Thaks again Dr. Westin.

    Reply
  10. Thank you thank you thank you for this information Dr. Childs. I’ve been looking for natural ways to control my graves disease. I was diagnosed last month and am taking 10mg of methimazole but showing no typical signs of graves, however, my T3s and T4s are elevated. Hence, why I’d like to find other ways to keep them under control and this is the 1st page I’ve found with some solid advice and explanation. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Dr. Childs,

    I have been searching high and low for some answers on hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed in April 2020 with hyperthyroidism but not Graves and after many blood work panels, doctor visits and an uptake and scan I was given 10 mg of Trapezoid. I am very reluctant to take this medication because I read that it will your white blood cell count and during this pandemic I am fearful. For someone whom never medicates is this safe? Am I able to take supplements in lieu of this medication? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply
  12. I would prefer to see you specify dosages on Mag Glycinate. I think you mean 300-600 mg of Mg, not 300-600 mg of Mag Glycinate. Since Mg is only about 1/4 of the weight of Mag Glycinate, this means that people have to read labels and know what is being given for the weight. A lot of the Mag Glycinate supplements are “1000 mg” of Mag Glycinate, and roughly 125 of that capsule would be Mg, giving you roughly 875 mg of glycine (this should give a guideline for interpreting any particular label, and write to the brand company to make sure). I personally have found glycine to be really helpful for keeping up my “glycine buffer” for my “poor”/highly variable methylation status (which I learned a lot about from Chris Masterjohn PhD).

    Reply
  13. Having graves flare up, I am on gluten-free diet, I take selenium, vitamin d3, zinc, magnesium but it doesn’t say what kind, i don’t add no idione salt to my foods either cause I was told that idione salts causes graves or flare ups. I been fine during the day, but when I go to bed I feel the graves messing with my heart where it goes to 146. I been trying to eat right and no dairy so why am I having flare ups when sleeping? What to take to stop it?

    Reply
  14. I have a low tsh but other thyroid hormones are now. Right in the middle of the range. I’ve been tested for the antibodies none there so no hashimotis it’s graves. I have several symptoms of hyperthyroid. Could it be possible I’m hyperthyroid?

    Reply

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