Optimal thyroid function is essential for metabolic health with multisystem implications, including central nervous system function, cardiovascular health, lipid profile, bone metabolism, energy expenditure, and body weight. Across the spectrum of thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism is the most prevalent with the bulk of diagnoses occurring in women and the elderly. As the name suggests, hypothyroidism refers to insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland, which is marked by reduced production of thyroid hormones. Left untreated, hypothyroidism is associated with debilitating and sometimes life-threatening symptoms including bradycardia, neurological impairments, hyperlipidemia, fatigue, depression, and weight gain, among many others. Despite being the most common endocrine disorder, the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of hypothyroidism can be a challenge.

To understand the various treatment opportunities for hypothyroidism, participants will first review normal thyroid physiology and the importance of thyroid hormones in metabolic homeostasis and overall health. Following this, participants will learn how to characterize and classify thyroid dysfunctions from an etiological and diagnostic perspective. With an understanding of this fundamental material, participants will then be introduced to current paradigm shifts in the treatment of hypothyroidism, particularly as they pertain to the need for personalized therapeutic interventions. In doing so, practical information on compounding opportunities for the treatment of this condition will be provided, including the demand for combined hormone therapy, customized dosage strengths and ratios, the use of slow-release capsules, as well as tailored nutraceutical options.