The Best Thyroid Supplements for Men

Men get thyroid problems just like women, and when they do, it hits them differently:

Not only do they have to worry about low-thyroid-related symptoms, they also have to worry about the downstream effect it has on testosterone.

If your thyroid is being dragged down, you can guarantee your testosterone is as well.

Here are 6 supplements every man with thyroid problems should take if he wants more energy, a faster metabolism, and a more balanced mood:

#1. Zinc

Zinc is a mineral your body uses to create T3 thyroid hormone.

This is the single most important and powerful thyroid hormone in your body.

But compared to women, men are more resistant to the effects of T3 on their cells, which means they need higher levels compared to women.

(This is why they often need higher doses of thyroid medication and why they take longer to respond).

This is where zinc steps in:

It helps your body naturally create more T3 by boosting the T4 to T3 conversion process.

But its benefits don’t stop there.

It also has an inhibitory effect on the enzyme aromatase, which helps to keep your estrogen levels low and testosterone levels high.

Put simply:

Low zinc = low thyroid output and lower testosterone (1).

But it’s easily replaceable and a supplement every man should take (even those without thyroid problems).

5-15 mg is all you need per day. Just make sure to use a bioavailable form like zinc chelate or zinc citrate.

#2. Ashwagandha

This may be the king of adaptogens for men (vying for 1st place with maca, which we will talk about soon).

Its primary use case is as a vitality supplement for energy and cortisol, but it does so much more than that.

What you may not realize is that, as a man, you are under a lot of stress and pressure from everyday activities (work, meetings, social life, relationships, etc).

And this stress is like a wine press for your thyroid. In fact, in many cases, stress is the precipitating cause of thyroid problems in men.

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This is where ashwagandha steps in:

When you take it, it helps your body cope with the stress that you are under. It doesn’t take the stress away, but it helps you become more resilient to it.

As a result, you’ll see more energy, better thyroid function, and a boost to testosterone.

This isn’t some theoretical boost, either.

Men who used 600 mg per day of ashwagandha for 8 weeks saw boosts to testosterone (2), sexual satisfaction, and sperm count.

If you use my T3 Conversion Booster, you get both ashwagandha and zinc together, but if you just want ashwagandah by itself, use this.

I have yet to meet a man who wasn’t stressed, and I’ve yet to meet a thyroid patient who didn’t benefit from some type of adaptogen (ashwagandha is just one of many).

#3. Tyrosine

Tyrosine is the building block your body uses to create several hormones, including thyroid hormones.

Technically, it’s not something you are ever going to be deficient in because it’s readily found in meat.

But that doesn’t mean that men don’t benefit from supplementing with it.

Men with thyroid problems who take tyrosine report:

More focus (3)
Better energy
Higher drive/ambition

If you’ve found that your thyroid is sapping your energy, preventing you from focusing at work, or just impacting your mood, tyrosine should be your go-to.

Yes, you can get it from foods, but you’ll get better results supplementing with 150-300 mg of L-tyrosine each day.

Combine this with ashwagandha if you really want to boost your energy.

Here’s my recommended tyrosine supplement.

#4. Magnesium

If you’re a man living in the modern world, you need more magnesium. Period.

Not only does it get depleted by stress (4), thyroid problems accelerate its elimination from the body.

And most men don’t consume anywhere near enough foods high in magnesium to replace lost levels.

The average man (who doesn’t have a thyroid problem) needs about 400 mg of magnesium each day.

But we know that the average man consumes ~350 mg per day (352 for caucasian men and 278 for African American men).

You don’t need to be a mathematician to realize that there’s a deficit here.

If you’re depleted, you’ll feel: stressed, irritable, fatigued, and weak.

You’ll also have a hard time going to bed, take longer to recover from your workouts, and likely experience muscle spasms.

The solution is simple:

Replace lost magnesium with highly bioavailable forms (these give you quick results).

The best for men include:

Sucrosomial magnesium (best for sleep & recovery)
Magnesium glycinate chelate (best for mood + thyroid)
Ozonated magnesium (best for constipation + gut problems).

Supplementing with magnesium is an easy win for men. If you don’t know where to start, start here.

#5. Maca

Legend has it that Mayan warriors used high doses of maca before battles, and afterward, they had to hide the women.

Too bad this is most likely false.

But what isn’t, is the effect maca has on libido in men.

Research shows that taking maca enhances libido (5), increases sperm count, and improves mood (for obvious reasons).

It doesn’t have a direct effect on testosterone or estrogen, but research shows it impacts hormone cellular sensitivity, making whatever amount of testosterone you have do its job more effectively.

I wouldn’t call maca a direct thyroid support supplement, but what I can tell you is this:

The downstream effects of thyroid dysfunction in men often lead to libido and ED. And if left unchecked, these will have a negative effect on your mental well-being.

Improving your thyroid will improve your libido, but it doesn’t hurt to get a little extra boost, either.

If your thyroid problem is stealing your energy and libido, take 1,000 to 3,000 mg of maca root powder each day.

I put maca root powder in my protein drink each day because that allows for double dipping on protein plus libido benefits.

#6. Vitamin D

Think of vitamin D more as a hormone than a vitamin, where it directly influences your thyroid, testosterone, and hair follicles.

Low vitamin D means:

Slower hair growth cycles (6) (and more hair loss)
Weaker thyroid function (and a higher risk of autoimmune thyroid disease)
And lower testosterone

Up to ⅓ of the global population is deficient in vitamin D, so there’s a very high chance you are as well, especially during winter months and at higher latitudes.

You’re probably not going to feel a huge difference when taking vitamin D, but it’s important for long-term health.

Ideally, you would get your 25-hydroxyvitamin d tested to determine if you are deficient.

But because most men with thyroid problems are, it’s safe to just make that assumption and supplement.

Take 2,000 to 5,000 IU of D3 per day until you reach a serum level of 50-70 ng/mL.

And don’t forget to combine it with vitamin K2 for heart health, bone health, and cholesterol.