Which mineral supports thyroid hormone metabolism?

Selenium is a vital mineral that plays a crucial role in thyroid hormone metabolism. It is an essential component of the enzymes known as deiodinases, which are responsible for the conversion of thyroxine (T4) into its more active form, triiodothyronine (T3). This conversion is critical for maintaining normal thyroid function and overall metabolic health.

In addition to its role in thyroid hormone activation, selenium also helps protect thyroid cells from oxidative damage due to its antioxidant properties. Insufficient selenium levels can lead to impaired thyroid function and associated disorders, indicating its importance in the synthesis and regulation of thyroid hormones.

While other minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium also have important functions in the body, they directly support different systems and processes. Iron is crucial for hemoglobin formation and oxygen transport, magnesium plays a role in numerous enzymatic processes and muscle function, and calcium is essential for bone health and muscle contractions, but they do not have a direct role in thyroid hormone metabolism like selenium does.