Possible role of fluoride in hypothyroidism

 Fluorine, bromine and iodine all belong to the same group in the periodic table of elements.  When iodine is ingested it is incorporated with a protein (synthesis) by the thyroid gland to produce   the natural hormone of the thyroid gland, iodothyroxine,
The rationale for fluoridation of our water supply  (as well as brushing your teeth with toothpaste containing this halogen ) is to reduce dental caries.  Although the jury is still out whether such preventative health practices actually  reduce dental caries, scientific evidence is accumulating  that fluorine does have toxic properties, not only to enamel (pitting, flaking, etc.) but also to other skeletal tissues.
Is it possible that the rising incidence of hypothyroidism in the elderly, may be due to the fluorine halogen, competing  with iodine for the synthesis of the natural thyroid hormone? I appreciate that I have no scientific evidence that such competitive inhibition actually occurs, but researchers could easily test this argumentative evidence ( see my earlier blog on the 4 types of scientific evidence).
As a footnote I would caution doctors to not prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone for replacement therapy in cases diagnosed as hypothyroidism but rather to use desiccated thyroid extract.