Omega-6 Linoleic Acid Suppresses Thyroid Signaling

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/12/omega-6-linoleic-acid-suppresse...


I found this article by one of my favorite bloggers, Stephan Guyenet of Whole Health Source, as I was searching old posts about PUFA oils before I responded to Just thinking's suggestion that I try oil pulling. Stephan's post has been cited here quite a bit. I've read it before, but as I scanned it this time one sentence popped out at me:

“Linoleic acid may interfere with thyroid signaling by inhibiting thyroid hormone binding to its receptor.”

Isn't this the same as saying that linoleic acid could be a cause of thyroid hormone resistance? I've been diagnosed with resistance to thyroid hormone at the cellular level. Couldn't this be a factor in resistance? I don't have any high-PUFA oils in my home. I only cook with coconut oil and butter. However I've often been too weak or ill to cook lately; I've barely had the energy to eat out. But you have almost NO control over what oils are used in restaurants. Plenty of PUFA oils are found there. And supposedly healthy canola oil (not!) has among its sins a pretty high amount of Omega 6.

I've vowed along with Wombat to go gluten free shortly; part of my plan is to also start cooking again with the simplest meals I can manage. This is just one more incentive to do so; it might be another avenue toward increased thyroid health.

Sam Tweet