Is your low iron affecting your thyroid health?

Low iron is a very common theme with the mums I work with within my clinic.

It could be they have a history of having low iron; be it from heavy periods, low dietary intake or digestive issues affecting how they absorb iron.

Or, they became very deficient during pregnancy and never quite got back to optimal levels afterwards.

Or, their periods have become a little heavier since having their babies. And/or they're traversing the perimenopause years (which can begin in the late 30s) and are experiencing changes to their menstrual cycle and their periods.

Most mothers are aware that having low iron can make them feel tired, sluggish or out of breath easily when it comes to exercise. It’s also a common deficiency that’s linked to hair loss and brain fog.

It can also really affect mental health; reducing one’s tolerance to stress and becoming easily overwhelmed, anxious or even depressed. This is because iron is involved in our brain's feel-good neurotransmitters. So yes, iron is pretty important.

IRON & THE THYROID GLAND

There is a strong relationship between iron and the thyroid gland.

This powerful little gland sits at the front of our neck, just below our throat area. It's often called the ‘master gland’ because it's vital for the overall functioning of our metabolism.

It's a bit of a 'Goldilocks' gland, as in we don't want it working too slowly (hypothyroidism) or too quickly (hyperthyroidism), but instead just right. This is when we feel our best.

There is a distinct relationship between our iron levels and our thyroid function.

Our thyroid gland is very nutrient-dependent, and iron is just one of the essential nutrients it needs.  

Iron is involved in:

1. Making our thyroid hormones (T4 + T3)

2. Converting the inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to the active hormone (T3)

3. Transporting the active hormone T3 into our body’s cells where it sparks our metabolic functions

DID YOU KNOW?

Sometimes the symptoms of having low iron can feel the same as the symptoms of having low thyroid hormones.

So, when I'm working with a mum who is feeling some or even all of the following:

• Tired, lethargic, sluggish or exhausted

• Low mood, easily overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or depressed.

• Hair loss/thinning hair

• ‘Needs’ coffee, carbs and sugar regularly ‘just to function’

• Too tired to exercise, or exercise wears her out

• Weight gain/weight loss resistance

• Dry skin, weak nails

• Low or no libido

• Poor concentration, and word recall

• Brain fog, word recall issues or poor memory
  

I think of both IRON and THYROID.

Is it just low iron?

Or, is it low iron that is now affecting her thyroid hormones, which is giving her these symptoms?

Low iron will contribute to low levels of thyroid hormones. As an example, this will effect her red blood cell production. And if there are low levels of iron in the body, this will also affect her red blood cell production. Remember, our red blood cells carry our oxygen around our body. To our BRAIN, GLANDS/ORGANS, MUSCLES… everywhere.

NATUROPATHIC CONSIDERATIONS

When I suspect, or I know the woman I’m working with has a history of low iron or iron deficiency, and/or is currently low, deficient, or even anaemic, I’m thinking of her thyroid gland.

How is her thyroid handling this lack of iron? Has it been impacted?


TESTING

We find out by doing a complete thyroid test (TSH, T4, T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Antibodies).

If we discover there are indeed thyroid issues, we get to work at restoring her iron and also look into checking/assessing the state of the other essential nutrients for her thyroid. These include iodine, selenium, zinc, tyrosine, B-vitamins, tyrosine and vitamins A, C, D and E.

Assessing and addressing the nutritional aspects of thyroid health is just one aspect of thyroid care.

Others include gut and liver function, autoimmunity effects, stress/cortisol effects, inflammatory effects, infections (viral) effects, toxins and/or the effects of long-term caloric restriction/under-eating or even intermittent fasting.

But we start with the lowest hanging fruit: the foundation of nutrition (what our body is built on).

Sometimes rectifying this can have a marked effect and kick the thyroid gland’s function back towards optimal. Once these are rectified, whatever is left to focus on can reveal itself more clearly for us.

How are your iron levels?

Is your haemoglobin around 135, and your ferritin at least over 60?

How are your thyroid levels?

Is your TSH: 0.5-1.5, your T4: 15-18, your T3: 5-6, and your Reverse T3 no greater than 200-250?

Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?

Are these levels high (in the 100s or 1000s) or are they below range?

If you're having any of the symptoms mentioned above, maybe there’s an iron and perhaps a thyroid issue behind it?

You won't know unless you have the right blood tests done, meaning those that assess your full thyroid function - not just your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). 

As so often this can come back 'normal' even when there is a thyroid problem brewing in the background. But, because the other thyroid markers have not been tested, the problem is missed. Symptoms will persist, and in some cases, the thyroid will continue to be damaged by an autoimmune issue, plus you’re not getting the answers you need to address your health issues.

Your doctor will be happy to test TSH, and at a push maybe T4. Frankly, this is not enough to completely assess your thyroid health. However, you can now access this testing through services such as iMedical or iScreen. Or, if we're working together I usually use Clinical Labs or Nutripath.