Hormone Health

Nutrients connected to Hormone Health

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• IodineEstablished role

  Iodine is a building block of thyroid hormones. Both too little and too much can upset thyroid function.

• Pueraria mirifica (kwao krua)Documented risk

  The root has strong estrogen-like activity (miroestrol). No human safety data were found for hormone-sensitive conditions, so this is a caution, not a benefit.

• SeleniumEstablished role

  Selenium is needed for thyroid hormone production. Evidence for other hormones was not read.

• Red cloverPreliminary or mixed

  Contains estrogen-like isoflavones; used for menopause symptoms with inconsistent results, and cautioned against in hormone-sensitive cancers.

• SpearmintPreliminary or mixed

  In small tea studies in women with hirsutism, hormone levels changed, but a better clinical outcome was not shown.

• Tongkat aliPreliminary or mixed

  Trials look at testosterone and cortisol; results are small, varied and preliminary.

• KudzuDocumented risk

  Kudzu root has estrogen-like activity (isoflavones). MSK advises avoiding it with hormone-sensitive cancers and with tamoxifen.

• BugleweedPreliminary or mixed

  Used for mild overactive thyroid; evidence is small open studies and case reports of mostly L. europaeus products, so it is preliminary. It may also lower thyroid function in people who do not need that.

• Spearmint TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Two small tea trials measured lower free testosterone and changes in LH, FSH and estradiol in women.

• Iodized Table SaltEstablished role

  Iodine is part of thyroid hormones.

• Saw palmettoLab or animal research only

  Lab studies suggest the extract reduces the action of male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. This has not been shown to matter in people.

• Wild yamLab or animal research only

  In the lab, wild yam extract acts as a weak plant estrogen, and in animals diosgenin mimics estrogen and progesterone. In women, a cream trial found no change in blood or saliva hormones.

• Horny goat weedDocumented risk

  Estrogen-like activity reported in lab studies; MSK advises caution in hormone-sensitive cancers.

• Cuscuta seed (tu si zi)Lab or animal research only

  Hormone-receptor effects are described in animal and cell studies only.

• Japanese knotweed (hu zhang)Documented risk

  Resveratrol has estrogen-like activity in the lab; Memorial Sloan Kettering advises caution in hormone-sensitive cancers.

• Rooibos TeaDocumented risk

  MSK notes estrogen-like compounds and advises caution with hormone-sensitive cancers.

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