21/01/2025
Why we check for vitamin D when doing a full thyroid blood test. Vitamin D levels are often a key componant in controlling and reducing antibodies. Your levels should always be at the upper end of the scale. This is a small bullet point review taken from Mercola. Story at-a-glance
Vitamin D is crucial for immune system regulation and helps manage autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines and reducing thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Having optimal vitamin D levels help improve thyroid function by decreasing TSH levels and increasing FT3 and FT4 levels, with active vitamin D (calcitriol) being more effective than other vitamin D supplements
Low vitamin D levels are correlated with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases, acting as an immunomodulator to balance proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells
Vitamin D has shown promise in reducing disease activity and improving treatment outcomes in autoimmune thyroid disorders by enhancing the innate immune response
Despite some conflicting results, vitamin D’s potential in managing autoimmune diseases is promising, offering a noninvasive strategy to mitigate the impacts of conditions like Hashimoto’s disease.
The foods that provide Vitamin D . NOTE that mushrooms are the only realy viable source of plant vitamin D. You need to eat pounds of them to attain adequete levels.
Mushrooms: Contain ergosterol, which converts to vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light. You can increase the vitamin D content of mushrooms by exposing them to the sun.
Waxyleaf nightshade: Contains vitamin D in its leaves.
Turkey berry: Contains vitamin D in its fruit, leaves, and roots.
Big eggplant: Contains vitamin D in its leaves and roots.
Orchard grass: Contains vitamin D in its roots.
How vitamin D is produced in plants
Plants with more sun exposure and plants that are more mature contain more vitamin D2.
Fungi and yeasts produce vitamin D2 when exposed to UVB light.
Other sources of vitamin D
Oily fish, such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel
Red meat
Liver
Egg yolks
Fortified foods, such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals (not advised as a dietary source)
Plant milks (not advised as a dietary source)
Moderate sunlight exposure
Vitamin D3 supplements or cod liver oil
