Many kids and adults with Down syndrome have thyroid problems — but these are often missed. In this episode, we explain what the thyroid does, why it matters for people with DS, and how functional medicine can help support thyroid health naturally.

👉 Full episode + resources: www.downforgreens.co

🌟 What You’ll Learn:

🔹 What is the thyroid?
 A small gland in the neck that helps control energy, growth, and temperature.
 Think of it as your body’s "speed dial."

🔹 Why is it important in Down syndrome?
 People with DS often have low thyroid (called hypothyroidism), but symptoms like tiredness or slow growth can be easy to miss.

🔹 Common thyroid conditions:

• Hashimoto’s: The immune system attacks the thyroid, causing it to slow down.
• Graves’ disease: The thyroid is too fast — less common, but still possible.

🔹 How Functional Medicine Helps:

• Looks at the whole body to find and treat the root cause.
• Uses advanced lab testing for nutrients, gut health, and inflammation.
• Personalized care with food, supplements (like selenium & zinc), and lifestyle support.
• Helps reduce inflammation, support energy, and balance the immune system.

🔹 What to do:

• Ask for regular thyroid screenings
• Focus on a nutrient-rich diet
• Support gut and immune health
• Work with a provider who understands functional medicine

👉 Visit www.downforgreens.co for more info and resources.

Sources: 

• Amr, Nermine H. “Thyroid Disorders in Subjects with Down Syndrome: An Update.” Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis vol. 89,1 132-139. 27 Mar. 2018, doi:10.23750/abm.v89i1.7120
• Lavigne, Jenifer et al. “Thyroid dysfunction in patients with Down syndrome: Results from a multi-institutional registry study.” American journal of medical genetics. Part A vol. 173,6 (2017): 1539-1545. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.3821
• Cebeci, Ayşe Nurcan et al. “Profile of hypothyroidism in Down's syndrome.” Journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology vol. 5,2 (2013): 116-20. doi:10.4274/Jcrpe.88
• Cattoni, Alessandro et al. “Thyroid Function Tests in Children and Adolescents With Trisomy 21: Definition of Syndrome-Specific Reference Ranges.” The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism vol. 108,11 (2023): 2779-2788. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgad333
• Szeliga, Kamila et al. “Subclinical Hypothyroidism as the Most Common Thyroid Dysfunction Status in Children With Down's Syndrome.” Frontiers in endocrinology vol. 12 782865. 4 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.782865
• Piticchio, Tommaso et al. “Effect of gluten-free diet on autoimmune thyroiditis progression in patients with no symptoms or histology of celiac disease: a meta-analysis.” Frontiers in endocrinology vol. 14 1200372. 24 Jul. 2023, doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1200372