The Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Illicium verum on Serum Levels of Thyroid Hormones and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients With Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism has been associated with complications such as increased inflammation, and oxidative stress.

This pilot study was created to assess the impact of Illicium verum (I. verum) on serum levels of thyroid hormones as well as depression, anxiety, and stress in hypothyroidism patients given the detrimental effects of oxidative stress on thyroid function and considering the antioxidant properties of I. verum.

In this double-blind clinical research with a placebo group, which was performed as a pilot, 20 hypothyroid individuals were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to a capsule containing 1.5 g of I. verum (per day) (n=10) or a placebo (n=10) for 8 weeks. Thyroid hormones, including free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Furthermore, depression and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) survey. Quantitative analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 20.

No discernible difference was observed between the blood thyroid hormone levels at the baseline. TSH levels in the intervention group decreased significantly at the end of the study, while FT3, FT4, T3, and T4 levels increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared to the study’s initial findings, the intervention group experienced considerably lower mean changes in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress scores. (P<0.05). 

The I. verum supplement can be helpful as a dietary supplement with antioxidant properties in patients with hypothyroidism. This herbal supplement can increase the effectiveness of medication in patients with hypothyroidism.