The subject of goitrogens crops up regularly in thyroid literature and discussions.
Goitrogens are substances, most often just foods as non-foods tend to be viewed as toxins, which impair the production of thyroid hormones (most often because they reduce iodine uptake) and can cause or contribute to the formation of goitres.
Which is hardly a surprise but the amount of accessible science-based information is small. Very often specific circumstances or individual cases have been reported properly. But later references have sampled to the point of being meaningless or even just wrong.
The paper below has a reasonable section on goitrogens but actually covers several anti-nutrients - all of which could be relevant, especially to those on restricted diets.
It is much more readable than many such papers and dates from 2020 - so is reasonably recent. It also has an impressive list of references.
However, as with so many areas, many researchers point to issues like lack of good quality evidence, questionable methods and interpretations of the evidence that is available.
Anti-nutrient groups
Lectins
Oxalates
Phytate (IP6)
Goitrogens
Phytoestrogens
Tannins
Is There Such a Thing as "Anti-Nutrients"? A Narrative Review of Perceived Problematic Plant Compounds.
Petroski W 1 ,
Minich DM 1
Nutrients, 24 Sep 2020, 12(10):E2929
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102929 PMID: 32987890 PMCID: PMC7600777
Abstract
Plant-based diets are associated with reduced risk of lifestyle-induced chronic diseases. The thousands of phytochemicals they contain are implicated in cellular-based mechanisms to promote antioxidant defense and reduce inflammation. While recommendations encourage the intake of fruits and vegetables, most people fall short of their target daily intake. Despite the need to increase plant-food consumption, there have been some concerns raised about whether they are beneficial because of the various 'anti-nutrient' compounds they contain. Some of these anti-nutrients that have been called into question included lectins, oxalates, goitrogens, phytoestrogens, phytates, and tannins. As a result, there may be select individuals with specific health conditions who elect to decrease their plant food intake despite potential benefits. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the science of these 'anti-nutrients' and weigh the evidence of whether these compounds pose an actual health threat.
Full paper available within EuropePMC:
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/32987890
And on the journal’s own site:
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/10/2929 or https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102929
This paper adds some details as to how some of these substances have their effect on the thyroid.
The role of micronutrients in thyroid dysfunction
Abstract
Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth and development in children. Nutritional factors are closely related to thyroid dysfunction due to deviation from normal physiology of the gland. Iodine, a main constituent of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), deficiency is one of the commonest causes of hypothyroidism in children and adults, worldwide. Other micronutrients, such as Cruciferous vegetables, Pearl Millet, Soy products and Cassava, were also attributed to cause thyroid dysfunction. Environmental factors, namely, contamination of water with goitrogens could also contribute to the aetiology of goitre in some endemic areas. Dietary advice and avoidance of excessive use of goitrogens in diet are part of guidance on nutritional safety that needs to be established, especially in the areas of endemicity.
Keywords: Cruciferous vegetables, Goitrogens, Iodine, Micronutrients, Millet, Soy, Thyroid
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7282437/
For posting in HealthUnlocked, copy and paste the entire dark red text below this sentence.
[i][b]helvella - Anti-Nutrients including Goitrogens[/b]
A short discussion about goitrogens and other anti-nutrients with a link to a major review paper.
Last updated 10/02/2025[/i]
Link to blog:
https://helvella.blogspot.com/p/helvella-anti-nutrients-including.html
If you find anything incorrect, misleading, typos, links that don’t work, etc., please let me know. Go to my profile and use the contact details there.
