Last Updated on August 20, 2025 by Carrie Korem, FNTP
If you’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you may be wanting to know which hypothyroid supplements actually make a difference for energy, metabolism, and hormone balance. While thyroid medication is often necessary, supplements can play a powerful role in filling nutrient gaps, supporting thyroid hormone conversion, and even reducing antibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease.
It’s important to remember that not all supplements are created equal—and choosing the wrong ones can do more harm than good. That’s why it’s so important to understand which nutrients your thyroid truly needs and how to use them safely.
Key Takeaways
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- Hypothyroid supplements can help fill nutrient gaps, reduce inflammation, help balance TSH, fT4 and fT3.
- Root causes matter: addressing nutrient deficiencies, adrenal health, liver function, and autoimmunity (if this is a factor for you) is essential for lasting thyroid support.
- Top hypothyroid supplements include selenium, iodine (when safe), vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, cod liver oil, and targeted thyroid tissue support.
- Always work with a practitioner and run full thyroid labs (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, antibodies) before starting supplementation. You can order those labs here.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism (also called an underactive thyroid) happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones (Free T4 and Free T3). This can slow metabolism, impact energy, and cause symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, dry skin, and weight gain.
Sometimes, conventional medical doctors will diagnose a patient with hypothyroidism when only TSH is elevated, but the thyroid hormones, fT4 and fT3 are optimal.
TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone. So, while TSH is important, it’s not the whole picture.
Functional practitioners recommend testing TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies to truly understand thyroid function.
Why Supplements Matter for Hypothyroidism
Your thyroid depends on key nutrients to function and to make thyroid hormones. Without them, you may experience:
- Poor conversion of T4 → T3 (the active thyroid hormone)
- Weak adrenal function, which can impact thyroid hormone production
- Low energy production in the cells
- Increased inflammation and autoimmunity
- Imbalances in blood sugar and mood
This is where hypothyroid supplements come in. They provide the raw materials and cofactors your body needs to produce, convert, and use thyroid hormones effectively.
The Best Hypothyroid Supplements
Here are the top hypothyroid supplements I recommend for thyroid support. These are the ones I’ve seen create the biggest impact with my clients.
Supports thyroid tissue at the cellular level with minerals, nucleotides, and peptides. I recommend this for almost every patient with hypothyroidism.
2. Selenium + Vitamin E (Cataplex E)
- Selenium is required for fT4 → fT3 conversion in the liver.
- Studies have shown that selenium helps reduce TPO antibodies in Hashimoto’s.
- Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant to support thyroid tissue.
3. Iodine (Prolamine Iodine or Iodomere)
- Essential for thyroid hormone production.
- Supports breast, ovarian, prostate, and immune health.
- This should be used carefully in Hashimoto’s. I never recommend supplementing with iodine unless your practitioner recommends it, so talk to them first before giving iodine supplementation a try.
- You can also add iodine to your diet with Dr. Cowan’s Sea Vegetables Powder.
- Herbal blend with Bladderwrack, Ashwagandha, and Bacopa for thyroid hormone balance and metabolism.
- Supports adrenal-thyroid connection.
- Encourages healthy stress response and balanced mood.
- This one is my absolute favorite for adrenal and HPA-axis support!
- Rich in vitamins A & D plus omega-3 fatty acids.
- Vitamin A regulates thyroid hormone levels.
- Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to hypothyroidism.
7. Livaplex
- It’s an excellent source of vitamin B6 and zinc and a good source of iron, copper, niacin, and antioxidant vitamin A.
- Can help support the conversion of fT4 to fT3.
8. Zinc Chelate
- Zinc is required for TSH production and fT4 → fT3 conversion.
- Also helps maintain strong stomach acid for nutrient absorption.
- Supports conversion of fT4 → fT3.
- Low magnesium is linked to higher rates of Hashimoto’s.
10. Betafood
- Supports liver detoxification.
- Essential for healthy fT4 conversion and hormone balance.
Root Causes of Hypothyroidism (Beyond Supplements)
While hypothyroid supplements can be powerful, they are only one piece of the puzzle. Root causes often include:
- Nutrient deficiencies (iodine, zinc, vitamin D, selenium)
- Adrenal imbalance and high/low cortisol
- Liver congestion (poor fT4 → fT3 conversion)
- Autoimmune attack on thyroid tissue (Hashimoto’s)
- Stress, lack of sleep, or over-exercising
- Medications that disrupt thyroid hormone balance
That’s why lifestyle strategies—nutrient-dense diet, stress reduction, detox support, and quality sleep—are just as important as supplementation.
Final Thoughts on Hypothyroid Supplements
If you’re struggling with low energy, brain fog, or stubborn weight despite being on thyroid medication, the right hypothyroid supplements can be incredibly helpful to fill in the gaps.
Supplements like selenium, iodine (when appropriate), vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and targeted thyroid blends can help restore balance and improve thyroid hormone conversion.
But remember: supplements work best when paired with root-cause healing such as supporting the adrenals, nourishing the liver, and reducing autoimmune triggers.
Always test, don’t guess. Work with a practitioner who understands functional thyroid care, and make sure you’re addressing the whole picture of thyroid health—not just TSH levels.
By taking this comprehensive approach, you’ll give your thyroid (and your body) the best chance at true healing and vibrant energy.
How can I learn more about the steps I can take for Hypothyroidism?
I have four fantastic options for you!
- To download my 50 of my top tips to support the thyroid naturally, tap here. I’ll also send you an educational email every few days to help you learn how to support your thyroid naturally.
- If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
- If you’re looking for a step-by-step plan for Hashimoto’s that truly works (no more piecing together info!), check out my 90-Day Thyroid Reset Program.
- Book a consult with me for one-on-one help. Here’s info about what working with me looks like.
Note: This purpose of this article is to share some whole food supplements that can be helpful to support the thyroid. These supplements do not treat any kind of disease and I always recommend talking to your practitioner before you take any kind of supplementation.
