Role of Zinc and Copper in Effective Thyroid Function

A hammer and nails; peanut butter and jelly; Laurel and Hardy. There are some things that just go together and work together as a team. The same is true with vitamins in the body. Copper and zinc are two such supplements that work together as a pair. Both play an important role in maintaining a healthy thyroid gland and preventing thyroid disease and other problems. Both copper and zinc have separate roles in providing thyroid support, yet the excess of one mineral leads to the deficiency of another. The proper balance of both copper and zinc are needed to prevent thyroid disease and maintain the right amount of thyroid hormones in the body.

Just as peanut butter and jelly both bring something different to the perfect PB&J sandwich, so do copper and zinc have individual roles in preventing thyroid problems and maintaining thyroid health.

Thyroid Support and Copper

Copper plays an important role in thyroid metabolism, especially in hormone production and absorption. Copper stimulates the production of the thyroxine hormone (T4), and prevents over-absorption of T4 in the blood cells by controlling the body's calcium levels (Calcium is required for the stabilization of cell membranes and reduces cell permeability).

Besides this, copper is also required for the synthesis of phospholipids, (a class of fats) that are found in the myelin sheaths that insulates nerves to protect them. Phospholipids are required for the stimulation of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). Therefore correct levels are needed to prevent thyroid problems, and can be used in the treatment of thyroid disease.

Thyroid Support and Zinc

Just as copper is important for thyroid function, zinc too is needed to prevent thyroid problems. Zinc is involved in the process that converts inactive hormone T4 into active hormone T3. An excess of inactive thyroid hormones in the body can lead to an under active thyroid gland. An Italian study showed that patients suffering with hypothyroidism gained improved thyroid function by supplementing their diet with extra zinc.

It appears that adequate levels of both copper and zinc help in improving thyroid health, and even in the treatment of thyroid diseases. So what happens if one or other of the minerals is deficient in the body?

Zinc and Copper deficiencies in Thyroid Diseases

In our perfect PB&J sandwich, the right balance of peanut butter and jelly is needed. Too much jelly and the sandwich becomes soggy; too much peanut butter and the sandwich sticks to the roof of your mouth. In the same way, too much copper in the body leads to reduced thyroid functioning and also halts the function of zinc.

The correct ratio of Zinc to Copper is 5:1 for females and 10:1 for males.

The two major thyroid diseases caused due to unbalanced levels of copper and zinc are:

Hyperthyroidism

Copper and zinc work together in the body as important antioxidants. Deficiency of zinc causes a deficiency of the antioxidant enzyme Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and leads to oxidative stress and antioxidative response in the patients of hyperthyroidism. Deficiency of copper also causes hyperthyroidism because the thyroid gland produces excessive hormone when the body is copper deficient.

Hypothyroidism

An imbalance of zinc and copper ratio in the body causes hypothyroidism, which is a thyroid disease that causes the thyroid gland. Research has shown that supplementation of the diet with first zinc, then copper, helps in hypothyroidism treatment and increases thyroid function. Zinc deficiency also causes low metabolic rate, which often results in immune dysfunction, so this is why it is important to get the right levels of zinc first.

In the natural treatment of many conditions, including thyroid diseases, it is the correct balance of many nutrients - rather than a single "miracle herb - that provides best results. The close relationship of copper and zinc show just why a complete, all-in-one, supplement is the most effective way to treat thyroid problems, or any other health concern.