Thyroid & Autoimmunity
The complex system which determines the body's immunity, and whose performance and function depends on a variety of factors, should ideally be directed only against cells foreign to the body, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, as well as harmful substances from the environment or the body's own pathological cell changes. Autoimmune diseases are chronic inflammatory processes in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and damages or partially destroys the body's own tissue.
Thyroid
The thyroid is responsible for controlling body functions such as cell metabolism, basal metabolic rate, heartbeat, growth and brain development via a complex hormonal regulatory circuit. The synthesis of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which are formed from the amino acid L-tyrosine and iodine, is crucial for this. The thyroid gland has the highest selenium content of all organs. Selenium is a cofactor of numerous enzymes and contributes to the protection of cells against oxidative stress.
