Hypothyroidism or low thyroid disease affects many of the systems in the body. The metabolism, or the way our systems are regulated, changes, this change brings with it certain risk factors which need to be taken into account when choosing a diet or thyroid supplement.

Heart disease is still the number one killer of both men and women in the western world and increasingly in other areas as diets change and fast food spreads across the world.



Every one knows the risk factors for heart disease and how to make changes:

  • Stop smoking
  • Exercise
  • Healthy diet
  • Lose weight
  • Check blood pressure
  • Check Cholesterol
  • Family history

With the exception of family history, we can take positive action to reduce our risk of heart disease.

In recent years another risk factor has come to light, high levels of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine  is produced  when an amino acid called methionine is broken down by the body. Methionine is found in red meat, most types of milk, and  many milk products. When the body is working as it should,  Homocysteine is broken down with the help of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.

Research has shown that even moderately elevated levels of homocysteine have been linked to increased risk of heart disease even in healthy individuals with no other risk factors being present. Some times the risk factors increase by as much as three times in men.

So what does this have to do with hypothyroid disease.
For many years doctors have known about the connection between heart disease and hypothyroidism. In fact some have even suggested that low thyroid function causes heart disease.

There are a large number of people with undiagnosed thyroid disease unaware of this extra risk.

The good news for those of us who are aware of our condition is that restoring an underactive thyroid function to acceptable levels normalizes elevated homocysteine in the blood and so reduces the elevated risk of heart disease.


In other words taking the correct medication in the right dosage as prescribed by your doctor and having your thyroid levels checked regularly should keep you on top of this. The addition of a thyroid supplement that contains the vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may also help to normalize proper function.


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Filed under: Thyroid Risk Factors

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