Herbal and mineral composition for the management of thyroid dysfunction

Abstract

Background. To date, herbal medicine is one of the most promising methods for comprehensive treatment of diffuse and mixed goiter. Under such conditions, it is relevant to use pharmacological preparations based on plant materials that would have a wide range of effects on thyroid function. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of dietary supplements containing L-tyrosine, brown algae extract (Phaeophyceae), zinc, copper, and folate, as well as dry extract of roots and rhizomes of white cinquefoil (Potentilla alba L.), dry extract of black chokeberry fruits (Aronia melanocarpa), dry extract of flowers and fruits of redhaw hawthorn (Crataegus sanguinea), sodium selenite and possibilities of their combination. Materials and methods. The study included 147 patients with nodular goiter and different thyroid functional state: 23 with diffuse goiter, euthyroidism; 24 with diffuse goiter, subclinical hypothyroidism; 22 with diffuse goiter, subclinical thyrotoxicosis; 27 with nodular goiter, euthyroidism; 25 with nodular goiter, subclinical hypothyroidism, 26 with nodular goiter, subclinical thyrotoxicosis. Results. The analysis of the use of herbal medicines showed that dietary supplements containing L-tyrosine, brown algae extract (Phaeophyceae), zinc, copper, and folate can be recommended alone or as part of a comprehensive treatment for 3 months in patients with endemic and multinodular goiter on the background of hypothyroidism and euthyroidism. In nodular goiter with hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism, it will be more effective to use herbal remedies with the inclusion of dry extract of roots and rhizomes of white cinquefoil (Potentilla alba L.), dry extract of black chokeberry fruits (Aronia melanocarpa), dry extract of flowers and fruits of redhaw hawthorn (Crataegus sanguinea), sodium selenite alone or as comprehensive treatment for 6 months. Patients with endemic and mixed goiter without thyroid dysfunction are recommended combined therapy with both herbal remedies for 3 months. Conclusions. The best effect was achieved with the combined use of both phytopreparations: in euthyroid patients with diffuse and mixed goiter, thyroid status remained normal, antibody levels were unchanged; they presented a significant decrease in volume and a tendency to decrease in the size of thyroid nodules.

Keywords

• thyroid gland
• hypothyroidism
• thyrotoxicosis
• nodular goiter
• treatment
• herbal medicine