Smoking and the Thyroid

The effects of smoking on the function of endocrine glands have been extensively investigated, but have yet to be fully elucidated. It is widely recognized that the most important component of smoke, produced from the burning of tobacco, that has effects on the endocrine system is nicotine, which acts through the interaction with acetylcholine receptors, but it seems likely that others of the numerous smoke products may somehow influence endocrine homeostasis. This article briefly examines the effects of smoking on the thyroid gland