Ingredients:

Vitamin A (Retinyl palmitate):Vitamin A (Retinyl palmitate): Retinyl palmitate, also referred to as "pre-formed vitamin A" is the form of vitamin A that is stored in the liver. It is converted into retinol and then into retinal by enzymes that are zinc-dependent.

Beta-carotene has not been used in this formula because individuals with hypothyroidism may lack the ability to effectively convert beta-carotene or other carotenoids into vitamin A.2

Retinyl palmitate may have an effect on 43 genes that in turn regulate enzymes possessing powerful antioxidant activity.3 Hypothyroid individuals tend to have elevated lipid levels and therefore need adequate antioxidants to prevent oxidation of cholesterol.4

Vitamin D (cholecalciferol): This bioavailable form of vitamin D facilitates intestinal absorption of calcium and maintains calcium:phosphorous balance. Hyperphosphatemia may be present in hypothyroid individuals and contribute to cardiovascular involvement.5 Higher dose, longer duration exogenous thyroxine, depletes skeletal sites such as the femoral neck, rich in cortical bone.6

Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol succinate): This powerful biological antioxidant makes it a useful component of the Thyroid Balance formula. In a study of 34 patients with various thyroid disorders researchers found elevated vitamin E levels in their thyroid tissue. They concluded that vitamin E acts as a scavenger in thyroid follicular cell dysfunction.

7 Researchers in Poland demonstrated that active oxygen radicals inhibit the activity of an enzyme responsible for the conversion of T4 to the active hormone T3.8

Iodine (Atlantic Kelp): Eighty percent of the body's iodine pool, (about 15 mgs in adults) is contained in the thyroid gland. Iodine is primarily used as a substrate for the manufacture of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

High iodine intake in the presence of insufficient selenium may permit thyroid tissue damage; whereas even a moderately low selenium intake normalized circulating T4 concentration in the presence of iodine deficiency.9

Zinc (as zinc citrate): Human studies have demonstrated consequent reduced concentrations of thyroid hormones when a zinc deficiency is present. The mean Zn and Se concentrations in thyroid cancer tissue were significantly lower than in the thyroid tissue of other patients suggesting that a deficiency of zinc participates in the carcinogenic process.10 Zinc deficiency has also been suggested as the possible cause for sub-clinical hypothyroidism sometimes seen in children with Down's Syndrome.

Selenium (as L- selenomethionine): Selenium is an integral component of the detoxifying enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and iodothyronine 5' deiodinase. The latter is responsible for peripheral T3 production. There is a narrow therapeutic threshold with respect to selenium.