Page 18 - Winter2017
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In effect, make and release thyroxine. have enough GSH, the unfettered ROS “sparks”
Thyroxine or thyroid hormone (also called will cause damage to the cell itself, eventu-
the body T4) is made in the thyroid gland from four ally damaging neighboring cells and tissues as
recognizes molecules of iodine added to tyrosine, an amino well. Selenium is not only the mineral cofactor
the fact that acid. T4 is what’s in Synthroid, but this is the necessary to convert T4 to its active T3 form.
if there isn’t inactive form of thryoid hormone. T4 is con- Selenium is also necessary to produce GSH (glu-
veyed through the bloodstream to cells where it tathione). If it doesn’t have the necessary GSH,
enough is converted to T3 , the active form of thyroxine, the cell either shifts to “emergency generator
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selenium to to get those cells working. In some ways T4 mode,” so at least it can stumble along until
make the converted to T3 is like an accelerator: its role there’s enough GSH to keep it up and running,
is to turn the cell’s machinery on. To do that, a or it undergoes apoptosis. Apoptosis is deliber-
protective specific iodine molecule needs be “chipped” off ate cell death, whereby the cell sacrifices itself,
GSH, there’s of the tyrosine template. Under stress, especially dies and lets its parts be recycled for reuse. By
no point in elevated cortisol, and other adverse conditions, taking damaged cells out of function, the tissue
the “wrong” iodine molecule is removed, lead-
can keep operating (assuming the remaining
converting ing to rT3, which occupies the site but cannot cells have enough GSH) and not “burn the body”
T4 to active complete its mission of activating the cells’ down by giving off unhindered free radicals.
T3 because functions; in other words, it’s a dud. The possible nexus here is that if a cell
TSH is typically the hormone measured doesn’t have enough selenium to make the GSH,
the cells can’t when thyroid problems are suspected, but it is it probably also does not have enough selenium
respond only a small part of the whole picture. Elevated to convert T4 to active T3. In effect, the body
anyway. TSH means there is inadequate response from recognizes that if there isn’t enough selenium
the cells when the thyroid summons T4 and T3 to make the protective GSH, there’s no point
to work harder. in converting T4 to active T3 because the cells
Nutrient deficiencies can underlie inad- can’t respond anyway.
equate response. Tyrosine can be derived from In addition, when a cell metabolizes fats
another amino acid, phenylalanine; one or the (as fatty acids) to generate energy as ATP,
other must come from the diet, as the body can- the process is much more efficient than using
not make them from bodily resources. The net glucose or sugar. It’s the difference between
effect is that without phenylalanine or tyrosine, generating heat and light from a large log that
the material from which we generate thyroxine burns for hours, and depending on scraps and
is missing. Adequate protein and robust di- twigs that flash and dissipate in the moment. Fats
gestive capacity are both necessary to ensure are also necessary for vitamin A to be absorbed.
adequate amounts of this important substance. Again, iodine and vitamin A need each other
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Vitamin A has a mutual relationship with for optimal absorption and use in thyroxine
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iodine for generating thyroxine. In addition to production. One could speculate that when the
iron and iodine, selenium is a necessary mineral body recognizes a situation where it doesn't have
cofactor for thyroid hormone synthesis, activa- all the materials necessary to function well, it
tion and metabolism. When TSH is elevated and doesn’t set itself up for a process it can’t sustain
cells still fail to respond sufficiently, it’s quite properly.
likely that selenium is inadequate. A complete discussion of thyroid function
There’s an interesting nexus here. Assum- warrants volumes. Succinctly, when thyroid
ing all other factors are in place, a cell will func- dysfunction is suspected, because the thyroid
tion as long as it has glutathione, abbreviated gland is part of a complex web of interacting
GSH, to capture free radicals given off when tissues, the problem is not solely in the thyroid.
a cell is actively metabolizing. Glutathione is An overall endocrine axis imbalance is highly
the body’s major antioxidant, the key agent to likely, with autoimmune issues present as well.
capture free radicals or ROS—reactive oxygen A complete thyroid panel is necessary to under-
species. When a cell operates, it gives off ROS. stand where and why the body’s homeostatic
If a cell continues to operate when it doesn’t efforts are bogging down. 18
18 Wise Traditions WINTER 2017