Gluten and Hypothyroidism

[Carrot1]

I often read that those of us who suffer from hypothyroidism should have a gluten free diet. Is there any proof/scientific evidence for this claim I wonder?

[Marz]

It is often mentioned here that going gluten free helps to reduce the anti-bodies involved in Hashimotos. Being Gluten Free helps to reduce inflammation in the large and small intestines. Gluten molecules can stick to the gut wall and cause inflammation when there is a sensitivity. Gluten molecules can also penetrate the blood brain barrier and cause inflammation. ( Ref: Dr Datis Kharrazian - Book - Why Isn't My Brain Working ? )

There is so much work being done by various people - Dr Izabella Wentz - Dr Datis Kharrazian - Dr Tom O'Bryan - Prof Yeheudi Schoenfeld - Dr Alezzandro Fassano - Dr Chris Kresser - Dr David Brownstein - Dr Josh Axe - and I could go on. Take a look at their websites - read their articles that are often linked to research.

In my own situation - with Crohns and Hashimotos - I have been Gluten Free for the last 3 years and my anti-bodies have reduced considerably. Still a little way to go. I have also lost the pain in certain joints - which had already improved with VitD - T3 - B12 etc.

I think we need to bear in mind that most conditions in the body begin with inflammation in the gut - so anything that improves gut health must be a winner

Colitis - IBS - Diverticulitis - Crohns - Ulcerative Colitis and so on - so there must be something going on with the food .... not to mention the millions of people that are being prescribed PPI's for indigestion - causing bigger problems further down the digestive tract ....

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Marz]

I take pretty much the same vits and minerals as Marz. I've been completely gluten free since September last year and even in that short time my antibodies have greatly reduced.

My Thyroglobulin A has come down from 401<115 to 180.6(0-115) and my ThPeroxidase A has come down from 31.3<34 to 18.7(0-34). I found that encouraging - need to retest soon.

I haven't found gluten free difficult, it is basically good home cooking - minus any source of gluten.

I don't snack - if I need to grab something in a hurry I have nuts and seeds, an apple of some cooked chicken, I'm sure there are other things too. I no longer drink diet drinks, have cut out chocolate - although I stilltake the odd square of very dark chocolate.

I also no longer need the PPIs that were prescribed for me, I stopped them very soon after I went GF.

I just ignore those people who say 'cutting out a whole food group is bad for you' - it certainly hasn't been for me. I can't see that you've got anything to lose from giving it a good try - and you've got loads to gain and I don't think it is all in my mind either.

[Hidden]

I was gluten free for four years after diagnosis of RA. I lost loads of surplus weight and was doing okay with my RA, while also taking the relevant drugs - although I do have a progressive small fibre neuropathy. Then we moved to a new area last year and have been rather nomadic ever since then. Suddenly all went pear shaped with my digestive system and I had many tests, colonoscopy to come at the end of this month. I went back on gluten properly 3 months ago to see if I have Coeliacs Disease - test done yesterday afternoon.

I have put on even more weight despite sticking to an otherwise healthy diet - and feel slow as a snail and previously mild symptoms keep flaring up. I'm going back to 100% gluten free again from today whatever the outcome of the test. The bloating has been awful lately and my instincts tell me I'm gluten intolerent because I didn't have this IBS constipation or rectal bleeds when I was fully gluten free. I find dairy makes me rather unwell now too so I drink almond milk and have given up all dairy. Planning to start Paleo diet once things are more settled on the domestic front and I've time to focus on it properly. All this from a fad sceptic.

My husband is reading a book called "GUT" by a young scientist called Giulia Enders, which supports the premise that the gut is like a second brain.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hidden]

That is so annoying for you. I hope something shows up in your test and at least you will know for sure.

I've got the Gulia Enders book, it's really interesting - whenever I hear someone saying they are hungry because their tummy is rumbling - I know it is doing its 'housekeeping' - because Giulia told me in her book

Good luck with your gut, hope you get it fixed soon.

[Hillwoman]

If you have the Hashimoto's form of thyroid disease, your anti-thyroid antibodies (from memory, the TPO anti-bodies) will attack the gliadin portion of gluten grains in the body. To the immune system, TPO and gliadin look very similar in their structure.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Marz in reply to Hillwoman]

You are so right - thank you for the reminder

[Carrot1]

How do I find out which form of thyroid disease I have? I've only recentLy developed it in the last 3 years. I'm now 72.

[Marz in reply to Carrot1]

You need to have your Thyroid Anti-bodies tested. They are called - Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg. This will confirm if you have Hashimotos if you have a positive result.

You may have had a thyroid condition much longer than you think - it creeps up on you over many years - many symptoms we blame on ageing - as do the Docs

[K1k1_belle]

I think Dr Tom O'Bryan explains it brilliantly 👍🏼

blogtalkradio.com/drloradio...

[Carrot1]

Can one have thyroid antibodies tested on the NHS? No-one has offered me a test.