Thyroid extract comes from tissue in the animal thyroid gland. Thyroid extract supplements contain dried and/or ground raw tissue or extract from tissue.
There are two major hormones produced by the thyroid gland: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid extract contains both hormones. Both T3 and T4 are involved in the control of growth and development, particularly in the development of the bones and brains of a developing fetus.
People use thyroid extract for low thyroid hormone production (hypothyroidism), infertility, thyroid cancer, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It might also be unsafe.
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