Thyroid glandular
Also called: Thyroid concentrate, desiccated thyroid, 'thyroid support' glandular
Dried thyroid tissue from cows or pigs, sold over the counter as 'thyroid support'. Testing has found that many contain real thyroid hormone, which can push the thyroid into an overactive state.
Supplements can interact with medications and aren't right for everyone, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a chronic condition. Ask your provider before you start.
Studied for
- Marketed for low energy, weight, and a sluggish thyroid
- Marketed for people with normal thyroid labs who still feel hypothyroid
Found naturally in
- Your thyroid makes its own hormone from iodine and the amino acid tyrosine
- Comes from animal thyroid glands. There is no common food source.
Label red flags
- Thyroid tissue or 'thyroid concentrate' in an over-the-counter product
- High-iodine kelp or iodine combined with glandular tissue
- Claims that it can replace thyroid medicine
Check with a provider
- Taking levothyroxine, liothyronine, or prescription desiccated thyroid. Don't combine them without your prescriber.
- Graves' disease or an overactive thyroid. Avoid it.
- Heart disease, an irregular heartbeat, or osteoporosis
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
- Signs of too much thyroid hormone, such as a racing heart, tremor, anxiety, trouble sleeping, weight loss, or feeling hot. It can also throw off thyroid lab results.
Usually found in thyroid support formulas, energy and metabolism formulas, multi-glandular blends. Browse Dr. Lesher's dispensary
Parts of the body it affects
Explore what each area does and the conditions that can affect it.
Illustrations: Servier Medical Art, CC BY 4.0
Ready to find the root cause?
Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.