By Dr. Lori Jokinen, DC – Functional Health Unlimited, Woodbury, MN

As a functional medicine chiropractor in Woodbury, Minnesota, I often work with patients who struggle with ongoing thyroid symptoms—even while taking prescribed thyroid medication. Many feel frustrated because despite doing everything “right,” they still experience issues like:

• Unexplained weight gain
• Chronic fatigue or low energy
• Constipation
• Brain fog and headaches
• Anxiety or low mood
• Dry hair and brittle nails

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. And more importantly—there may be a missing piece that hasn’t been properly evaluated yet.

The Overlooked Connection Between Iron (Ferritin) and Thyroid Function

Emerging research shows that iron levels—specifically ferritin—play a critical role in proper thyroid function.

Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells because it supports hemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen throughout your body. When iron levels are low, oxygen delivery suffers, contributing to fatigue, weakness, and impaired metabolic function.

But what many people don’t realize is that iron is also necessary for the production and conversion of thyroid hormones, including:

• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
• T3 (active thyroid hormone)
• T4 (storage thyroid hormone)

When ferritin is too low, your thyroid may not function optimally—even if your medication dosage appears “normal” on standard lab tests.

Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions and Poor Iron Absorption

The most common thyroid disorders I see in my Woodbury practice are autoimmune conditions, including:

• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Graves’ Disease

Autoimmune conditions often involve chronic gut inflammation, which can interfere with your body’s ability to properly absorb nutrients—especially iron.

Additionally, conditions such as celiac disease, food sensitivities, or leaky gut can further reduce iron absorption, leading to chronically low ferritin levels.

What the Research Shows About Ferritin and Thyroid Symptoms

A study published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (February 2019) revealed something powerful:

In nearly two-thirds of women with persistent hypothyroid symptoms despite medication, raising ferritin levels above 100 significantly improved symptoms.

(Source: National Library of Medicine – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

This helps explain why so many individuals continue to feel unwell despite being told their thyroid labs are “within range.”

What Should You Do If You Suspect Low Ferritin?

If you are experiencing persistent symptoms, I strongly recommend asking your provider for comprehensive functional lab testing, including ferritin.

However, it is extremely important not to start supplementing with iron without testing first. Excess iron can become toxic and may worsen inflammation if your levels are already adequate.

Just as important is optimizing your gut health, because even the best supplements will not work if your digestive system cannot properly absorb them.

Functional Thyroid Support in Woodbury, MN

At Functional Health Unlimited, I take a whole-body, root-cause approach to thyroid health. Instead of simply managing symptoms, we assess:

• Comprehensive thyroid labs
• Ferritin and nutrient status
• Gut health markers
• Inflammation patterns
• Lifestyle and stress factors

If you live in Woodbury, Minneapolis, St. Paul, or surrounding Minnesota communities and are frustrated with unresolved thyroid symptoms, I would love to help.

👉 Learn more about our functional medicine services:
https://www.functionalhealthunlimited.com

👉 Request an appointment with our Woodbury clinic:
https://www.functionalhealthunlimited.com/contact

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Dr. Lori Jokinen, DC, CACCP, CFMP, BA
Functional Medicine & Chiropractic Care
Functional Health Unlimited – Woodbury, Minnesota