What substance does the thyroid use to produce hormones?

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Multiple Choice

What substance does the thyroid use to produce hormones?

Iodine is required by the thyroid to make its hormones. The gland actively takes up iodide from the bloodstream and uses enzymes to attach iodine onto tyrosine residues of thyroglobulin, forming the iodinated intermediates that couple to produce T3 and T4. Without iodine, the thyroid cannot synthesize these hormones, leading to low circulating thyroid hormone and typically an enlarged thyroid as the gland tries to compensate. Iron, calcium, and magnesium do not participate in thyroid hormone synthesis. Iron is mainly a component of hemoglobin and various enzymes, calcium and magnesium have other roles in the body, but not in making thyroid hormones.

Iodine is required by the thyroid to make its hormones. The gland actively takes up iodide from the bloodstream and uses enzymes to attach iodine onto tyrosine residues of thyroglobulin, forming the iodinated intermediates that couple to produce T3 and T4. Without iodine, the thyroid cannot synthesize these hormones, leading to low circulating thyroid hormone and typically an enlarged thyroid as the gland tries to compensate.

Iron, calcium, and magnesium do not participate in thyroid hormone synthesis. Iron is mainly a component of hemoglobin and various enzymes, calcium and magnesium have other roles in the body, but not in making thyroid hormones.

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