Antibodies and gluten

[Silver_Fairy]

Can I ask why gluten affects antibodies (in laymans language please!)

[shaws Administrator]

Maybe this excerpt will help:-

In the case of autoimmune thyroiditis, a gluten-free diet sometimes can decrease anti-thyroid antibodies. It is thought that people with autoimmune disease have a more permeable intestine (leaky gut) and that gluten and/or other undigested substances are leaking into the blood stream and causing autoimmunity through molecular mimicry. This is supported by a recent Italian study that found that individuals with gluten allergy also developed a significant allergy to their own thyroids, which disappeared when gluten grains were removed from the diet. Checking for serum levels of antibodies against gluten as well as thyroid antibodies is standard practice at the Hoffman Center. - See more at: drhoffman.com/article/hypot...

drhoffman.com/article/hypot...

[shaws Administrator]

Continuing the links below, I thought 'why don't our doctors promote our health like this'?

Usually when there is a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, patients are prescribed replacement therapy with Synthroid (synthetic T4). This may not completely do the trick in normalizing hormone levels and diminishing symptoms. Many patients experience overall improvements when thyroid hormone is switched from Synthroid to Armour thyroid (natural T3 and T4).

Hypothyroidism does not have to be a lifelong struggle with low energy, depression and weight gain. A therapeutic diet coupled with effective supplementation, as well as thyroid medication where appropriate, can reduce symptoms, regulate hormones and re-establish a healthy metabolism.

- See more at: drhoffman.com/article/hypot...

drhoffman.com/article/hypot...

[Silver_Fairy in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws, will take a read later when I have more time. Dos it tell you in the articles how it affects hyperthyroidism? I have Graves.

[crimple]

What has the food that you eat got to do with hypo etc?!! sorry pardon my obtuseness. Most docs know nothing at all about nutrition and even less about gluten and the problems that it can cause. I am on gluten and dairy free diet as I have TPO antibodies but they (the medics) look bemused when you say that!! I might ask them sometime if they would put diesel in a petrol car? I don't remember who said let food be your medicine. I have read Isabella Wentz and Robb Wolf's books about auto immune conditions (which includes TPO antibodies) and diet. I can recommend the books and there are others that folks on here will no doubt mention too. Hope you soon have a better understanding of the issues a round gluten etc. The way I understand the problem is that your body gets confused between thyroid tissue and gluten and so you end up with a reaction to both!

[Clutter in reply to crimple]

Crimple, I like the petrol/diesel analogy

[crimple in reply to Clutter]

Thanks clutter. You have to try and simplify the issues we thyroidies face, especially for the medics!

[Silver_Fairy]

But how does it affect hyperthyroidism?