Is it true that coconut oil can cure hypothyroidism?

Answer From Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.

No. Coconut oil is claimed to help with numerous health conditions, including an underactive thyroid, weight loss, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. But there's little to no evidence supporting any of these claims.

If you have signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism — such as increased sensitivity to cold, unexplained weight gain or fatigue — consult your doctor. He or she can test your thyroid function. If necessary, they can recommend appropriate treatment, which may include thyroid hormone therapy.

If you've already been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, it's important to take your thyroid replacement hormone (levothyroxine) as directed by your doctor. There is no cure for an underactive thyroid. However, the condition can be successfully managed with levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levo-T, others).

Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic’s experts.

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Dec. 01, 2020 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?
  2. Antidepressants and alcohol: What's the concern?
  3. Antidepressants and weight gain: What causes it?
  4. Antidepressants: Can they stop working?
  5. Antidepressants: Side effects
  6. Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you
  7. Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?
  8. Arcus senilis: A sign of high cholesterol?
  9. Atypical antidepressants
  10. Caffeine and depression: Is there a link?
  11. Coenzyme Q10
  12. Chapped lips: What's the best remedy?
  13. Cholesterol concerns? Get moving
  14. Cholesterol concerns? Lose excess pounds
  15. Cholesterol level: Can it be too low?
  16. Cholesterol medications: Consider the options
  17. Cholesterol ratio or non-HDL cholesterol: Which is most important?
  18. Cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?
  19. Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers
  20. Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful
  21. Clinical depression: What does that mean?
  22. Coma
  23. Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
  24. Depression, anxiety and exercise
  25. Depression: Diagnosis is key
  26. Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap
  27. Depression (major depressive disorder)
  28. Depression: Provide support, encouragement
  29. Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
  30. Dry skin
  31. Eggs and cholesterol
  32. Eggs: Bad for cholesterol?
  33. Fatigue
  34. Fish oil and depression
  35. Five foods to lower your cholesterol
  36. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol
  37. High cholesterol
  38. High cholesterol in children
  39. High cholesterol treatment: Does cinnamon lower cholesterol?
  40. How to heal cracked heels
  41. How to heal cracked skin at thumb tip
  42. Hypothyroidism and infertility: Any connection?
  43. Hypothyroidism: Can calcium supplements interfere with treatment?
  44. Hypothyroidism diet
  45. Hypothyroidism and joint pain?
  46. Hypothyroidism: Should I take iodine supplements?
  47. Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems?
  48. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  49. Infant jaundice
  50. Is your diet hurting your heart?
  51. Joint pain
  52. Joint pain: Rheumatoid arthritis or parvovirus?
  53. Depression and diet
  54. Lexapro side effects: Is breast tenderness common?
  55. Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  56. Lowering Triglycerides
  57. Macrocytosis: What causes it?
  58. Male depression: Understanding the issues
  59. MAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?
  60. Marijuana and depression
  61. Mild depression: Are antidepressants effective?
  62. Mayo Clinic Minute: Moisturizer tips from a dermatologist
  63. Moisturizers: Options for softer skin
  64. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  65. Muscle pain
  66. Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
  67. Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?
  68. Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol
  69. Niacin overdose: What are the symptoms?
  70. Pain and depression: Is there a link?
  71. Pomegranate juice: Can it lower cholesterol?
  72. Is there a risk of rhabdomyolysis from statins?
  73. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  74. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  75. Skip flavored lip balm
  76. Soy: Does it reduce cholesterol?
  77. Soy: Does it worsen hypothyroidism?
  78. Statin side effects
  79. Statins
  80. Statins: Do they cause ALS?
  81. Statins: Should you be on one?
  82. Symptom Checker
  83. Thyroid disease: Can it affect a person's mood?
  84. Time your lotions right
  85. Lifestyle changes to improve cholesterol
  86. Trans fat: A double whammy
  87. Trans fat
  88. Trans fat substitutes: Not a slam dunk
  89. Treatment-resistant depression
  90. Tricyclic antidepressants and tetracyclic antidepressants
  91. Triglycerides: Why do they matter?
  92. Vitamin B-12 and depression
  93. VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful?
  94. Ward off dry skin
  95. Wilson's syndrome: An accepted medical diagnosis?