MONOLAURIN & THYROID HEALTH

You may not have heard of monolaurin, but you’ve probably heard of lauric acid which is found in coconut oil. Monolaurin is a medium chain fatty acid dietary supplement that is synthesised from lauric acid. According to the research there are a few ways monolaurin may support thyroid health.

In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Damon Sununtnasuk from Palmara Health all about monolaurin.

Here are the key topics we cover:

•  the importance of taking personal responsibility for your own health – to educate yourself and take time to research different topics.
• Compliance – what this is for companies selling health products and supplements (and why we are careful with what we say in this podcast)
• What is monolaurin?
  • Where is it found?
  • How is it made?
  • What forms can it come in?
  • The difference between taking monolaurin and just consuming coconut oil.
• The main reasons people take monolaurin as a dietary supplement is for immune and digestive health.
• The possible connections to thyroid health eg immune health, digestive health, pathogens (can be a thyroid trigger) and some of the research referred to below.
• What to look for in good quality supplements generally:
  • Clean label
  • Where are the ingredients sourced?
  • Where is it made?
  • Is it subject to 3rd party testing?
  • Are the manufacturing facilities certified?
  • What ‘other ingredients are there?

“Healthcare is more than taking a pill and hoping something changes overnight. It’s a journey that involves many aspects including diet, exercise, sleep and potentially supplementation.” Damon Sununtnasuk

3 main ways to integrate monolaurin into a supplement routine:

1. Start low & slow.
2. Take regulgarly as a maintenance for overall immune health.
3. Increase at key times when feeling low much like you might increase Vitamin C at certain times.

 

Research on monolaurin & thyroid health

Here are some summaries and links to studies that specifically deal with thyroid health and monolaurin.

Study issue: Monolaurin increases the efficacy of synthetic T4 

Link

“The purpose of the present study was to increase the transepithelial transport of T4 using straight chain fatty acids across Madin-Darby Canine kidney (MDCK) cell line. Capric acid (C10), lauric acid (C12) and oleic acid (C18) were studied in molar ratios of 1:0.5, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 (T4:fatty acid)….All three fatty acids proved to significantly increase T4 transport…. Hence, addition of fatty acids to T4 formulations at low concentrations can significantly improve intestinal permeability of T4 without any toxicity potentially leading to improved bioavailability.” [Ref #8]

Summary: Monolaurin makes treatments more effective. T4 is used for treatment of hypothyroidism. The presence of lauric acid made the T4 treatment more effective. It was better able to permeate the body and perform its necessary function. 

Study issue: Hair dryness and hair loss as a result of Hashimoto’s

Link

“…published results showed that both in vitro and in vivo coconut oil (CNO) treatments prevented combing damage of various hair types…Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and, because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft.”

Summary: Coconut oil taken in vitro AND in vivo can help prevent hair damage because monolaurin is able to penetrate the hair shaft.

Study issue: Weight gain as a result of slowed metabolism

Link

“From the literature reviewed, we conclude that MCT [medium-chain triglycerides] increase energy expenditure, may result in faster satiety and facilitate weight control when included in the diet as a replacement for fats containing LCT [long-chain triglycerides].”

Summary: Research has found that, unlike other fatty acids, lauric acid can help to slow weight gain and that the fat is able to be converted into energy to boost metabolism.

Study issue: Autoimmune disease and gut health

Link

“dietary medium chain triglycerides (MCT), previously found to promote lipid catabolism, energy expenditure and weight loss, can ameliorate metabolic health via their capacity to improve both intestinal ecosystem and permeability. MCT-enriched diets could therefore be used to manage metabolic diseases through modification of gut microbiota.”

Summary: Monolaurin benefits from a number of positive studies on its role in supporting and maintaining immune health. Monolaurin is derived from a medium-chain triglyceride called lauric acid and “has been reported to have the greatest antimicrobial activity of all the monoglycerides”.

Topic: Hyperthyroidism 

Study issue: MCFA regulation of thyroid hormone receptors

Link

“T3 action is mediated by T3 receptors (TRs) that bind to T3 response elements (T3REs) in this gene’s 5′-flanking DNA. In transiently transfected hepatocytes, fragments of 5′-flanking DNA of the malic enzyme gene or artificial T3REs that conferred T3 stimulation also conferred MCFA inhibition to linked reporter genes. Thus, MCFA inhibition may be mediated through cis-acting T3REs and trans-acting TRs, distinguishing MCFA action from that of other fatty acids which act through unique sequence elements.”

Summary: T3 action regulation is aided by medium chain fatty acids. This article mainly deals with gene transcription that is related to the thyroid. However, an overactive thyroid is indicated by a high total of free T3.

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