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Goitrogens

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GOITROGENS

Goitrogens are substances that promote the formation of a goiter. These substances include foods, drugs, and chemicals.

There are other causes of goiter, for example if the TSH is elevated for too long without thyroid treatment, it will cause goiter to occur.

Since goitrogens interfere with thyroid function, it makes sense that even if they are not consumed in sufficient quantities to cause goiter, they might still be interfering with optimal thyroid function.

Goitrogens are important not just because they create "goiter", but because they can interfere with iodine metabolism in general.  Moreover, since they are directly involved in thyroid hormone production and metabolism, they affect every part of the body.

Goitrogens interfere with iodine utilization. 

They may block the transporters responsible for moving iodine into the cell (e.g., the NIS) or they may interfere with the manufacturing process for the thyroid hormones (e.g., T3 and T4).

Sometimes, they interfere with thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity. TPO is important in the process of attaching iodine to the  tyrosine for the production of T4 and T3.

Lithium can block the release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland.

Other substances can block the deiodinization of the thyroid hormones or can block the receptor sites for the thyroid hormones.

Another possible way goiter may be caused in low iodine areas is by eating large amounts of soy components or other substances which increase fecal bulk. This causes excessive excretion of T4, which the thyroid has difficulty in compensating for because of the inadequate iodine stores.

Where Goitrogens are Found

Goitrogens are found in our food, water, and air.

Both the lack of substances (e.g., iodine) and the presence of substances (e.g., thiocyanate) can contribute to goiter.

At this point we have learned a lot about what contributes to goiter, but there is a lot that is still not known. 

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  Copyright: Zoe, 2006.