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. 2020 May 8;12(5):1337.
doi: 10.3390/nu12051337.

Nutraceuticals in Thyroidology: A Review of in Vitro, and in Vivo Animal Studies

Salvatore Benvenga  1   2 , Silvia Martina Ferrari  3 , Giusy Elia  3 , Francesca Ragusa  3 , Armando Patrizio  3 , Sabrina Rosaria Paparo  3 , Stefania Camastra  3 , Daniela Bonofiglio  4 , Alessandro Antonelli  3 , Poupak Fallahi  5
Affiliations

Nutraceuticals in Thyroidology: A Review of in Vitro, and in Vivo Animal Studies

Salvatore Benvenga et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are defined as a food, or parts of a food, that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention of different pathological conditions, and thyroid diseases, or the treatment of them. Nutraceuticals have a place in complementary medicines, being positioned in an area among food, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals. The market of certain nutraceuticals such as thyroid supplements has been growing in the last years. In addition, iodine is a fundamental micronutrient for thyroid function, but also other dietary components can have a key role in clinical thyroidology. Here, we have summarized the in vitro, and in vivo animal studies present in literature, focusing on the commonest nutraceuticals generally encountered in the clinical practice (such as carnitine, flavonoids, melatonin, omega-3, resveratrol, selenium, vitamins, zinc, and inositol), highlighting conflicting results. These experimental studies are expected to improve clinicians' knowledge about the main supplements being used, in order to clarify the potential risks or side effects and support patients in their use.

Keywords: carnitine; flavonoids; melatonin; nutraceuticals; omega-3; resveratrol; selenium; thyroid; vitamins; zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of the main findings. NIS, sodium/iodide symporter; TPO, thyroid peroxidase; AIT, autoimmune thyroiditis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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