Is my gluten free diet making any difference?

[bell22]

Hi all. I went on a strict gluten free diet on 30 October 2017 and I’ve just had my most recent results back. They look quite different than before, but not sure if it’s 1) an improvement, and 2) if this change is due to being GF. I did also start supplementing (Vit B Complex, Vit D, Selenium) before going GF, a couple of months before my 26 Oct 2017 results (which could account for a change in results from 20 July 2017). After 26 Oct also started taking Vit C and magnesium. I’d love to hear what you all think.

RESULTS

14 Feb 2018

TSH 2.73 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 4.89 (3.1-6.8)

TT4 110 (59-154)

FT4 16.8 (12-22)

Reverse T3 20 (10-24)

rT3 Ratio 15.92 (15.01-75) — never tested this before. Seems I’m not converting that well.

ATG 23.5 (to 115)

AntiTPO 131 (0-34)

Ferritin 124 (13-150)

ACTIVE Vit B12 160 (25.10-165)

Folate (Serum) 15.71 (2.91-50)

Vit D (25OH) 130 (50-200)

CRP 0.38 (0-5)

26 Oct 2017

TSH 4.19 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 5.77 (3.1-6.8)

TT4 140 (59-154)

FT4 16.2 (12-22)

ATG 27.8 (0-115)

AntiTPO 161 (0-34)

Ferritin 164 (13-150)

ACTIVE Vit B12 177 (25.10-165) — adjusted dose after this

Folate 19.98 (2.91-50)

Vit D (25OH) 123 (50-200) — adjusted dose after this

CRP 1.4 (0-5)

20 July 2017

TSH 5.48 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 5.9 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 14.8 (12-22)

ATG 64.0 (0-115)

AntiTPO 204.9 (0-34)

CRP 1.1 (0.1-5)

All tests taken first thing around 9am on an empty stomach.

I don’t take any medication for my thyroid or otherwise, and I still feel the same as always, i.e. mostly asymptomatic.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you!

Bella

[jimh111]

Made no difference. The pattern from July to Oct (before GF) is similar to the pattern afterwards. Beware that if you have the blood taken early morning it is at a time when TSH is rapidly falling, so your TSH reading can be affected by timing or body clock.

As you have elevated antibodies you are at increased risk of developing autoimmune hypothyrodism in the future, it's only a risk not a certainty. As you have little or no symptoms I wouldn't worry.

[bell22 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks jimh111 - I’d agree, except it seems that TSH has dropped quite a bit more since I went GF. However, that could also be due to optimised vitamin levels/taking supplements.

[greygoose in reply to bell22]

Gluten free will not affect your TSH. Going gluten-free is a measure to lower your antibodies. You're haven't changed much. And it's likely to be your Hashi's that is affecting your TSH.

You do convert very well, actually. rT3 is not just a measure of how well you convert. It just informs you of some kind of problem, without specifying what that problem is. To know how well you convert, you compare your FT4 with FT3. Yours, on 14th February, are both about mid-range, with the FT3 being slightly higher in range than the FT4. So, your conversion is good.

[bell22 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose ! I came across this article which made me think gluten can affect TSH too redtailhealth.com/should-yo... - but almost everything else I read seems to confer with what you’re saying.

Would you mind clarifying what you mean by Hashi’s affecting my TSH as well - how so?

And oh that’s good to hear re conversion!! 😁

[greygoose in reply to bell22]

Not sure I can clarify. But, it often happens that the TSH fluctuates with Hashi's. The Hashi's is slowly destroying your thyroid, and as it does so, dying cells release stores of hormone into the blood stream. More thyroid hormone means TSH drops. When the extra hormone is used up, the TSH rises again.

That article is as clear as mud! I can't help wondering if the writer isn't a little confused. As to never having met a Hashi's patient that wasn't affected by gluten, he hasn't met me! And, I suspect, many, many others like me. Even so, I don't think your TSH can be said to have dropped 'precipitously'.

[bell22 in reply to greygoose]

😊 thanks again!!

[greygoose in reply to bell22]

You're welcome.

[jimh111 in reply to bell22]

The study ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?ter... found patients with coeliac disease required more levothyroxine, presumably due to impaired absorption. Atypical is defined as mild or undiagnosed coeliac disease. This is not a surprise. The article you cite gives the wrong reference "A study released in January" (2015) in the first sentence, hardly a good recommendation for the rest of the article.

Gluten free is suggested as a means of reducing thyroid autoimmunity. Studies have shown it doesn't make a difference. Autoimmunity dies away naturally in time for most patients. I have seen another study (sorry lost the reference) which looked at going gluten free in subjects with coeliac antibodies (about 4% of adult patients with thyroid autoimmunity) and this did find a reduction in thyroid autoantibodies. These were subjects with coeliac antibodies but not suffering from coeliac disease. So, it appears going gluten free may have benefit for 4% of adults in terms of reducing thyroid autoimmunity.

Hashi's affects TSH because Hashimoto's disease destroys the thyroid and so the TSH will rise to stimulate the thyroid.

The drop in TSH since you went gluten free is probably random, because your overall fT3 and fT4 were not higher after you went gluten free. If you have the blood taken early morning TSH results can vary quite a bit because TSH is changing rapidly at this time of day. Also, if a woman has blood taken mid-cycle her TSH will be much higher frontiersin.org/articles/10... . So it's important not to place to much emphasis on the precise TSH level.

[bell22 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks that’s very detailed and helpful! Re when my TSH was taken, it’s always between 8am and 9am, and my understanding is that this is the best time as levels actually go down later in the day healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Overall though, key thing is not to focus on TSH only too much, which I agree with. Thanks again!

[jimh111 in reply to bell22]

Yes it will give you a higher TSH which might be essential if you can't otherwise persuade a doctor to treat you. On the other hand it will give a more variable result as TSH is on an downward slope at this time.

[bell22 in reply to jimh111]

Ah I see what you mean now! Thanks again

[Peanut31]

Hi bell2

I went gluten free in September as I have Hashimoto’s and I feel so much better for it.

I definitely think this has helped my symptoms and it reduced my antibodies.

I also think taking selenium, iron , vitamins D, C, B12 is also a factor.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your TPO antibodies are dropping, that confirms what majority of patients find.

TSH also dropped considerably

FT4 increased slightly

Do you feel any different gluten free?

Your falling antibodies and lowered TSH suggest it's helping

[bell22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for responding SlowDragon . I never had any major hypo symptoms, so can’t say anything about those improving, but I do feel generally better being GF (more energetic, less bloated, improved digestion) - however that could also be because I’m eating a lot healthier, i.e. cooking fresh food at home instead of relying on convenience. (Actually, going GF has finally made me learn how to cook - big bonus! 😊) Regarding my falling TSH and antibodies, I would say that too, except that they were both already falling before I went GF (if you compare my July and Oct results). I believe that’s because I started supplementing (with B complex, selenium, vit D, magnesium, and vit C). Although TSH did drop quite a lot more when I went GF - but then so did my T3, which is no longer in the ‘optimal’ range - if that means anything!

[Bluemaxx]

Going gluten free (about two years ago) has made a huge difference to me - especially in how I feel - but not so much in the antibodies as they haven't reduced. They did, however, increase when I ate gluten as an experiment about six months ago. I decided to try some delicious bread in France and the next day I had a headache! Coincidentally I had a blood test booked and my antibodies had gone sky high so I definitely see a correlation.

Do you take 200mcg of selenium every day as this is supposed to bring the antibodies down as well.

[bell22 in reply to Bluemaxx]

Thanks Bluemaxx very helpful! That’s exactly what I’m planning to do. I think I’ll stay GF until the 6 month mark, test again, and then try eating gluten again to 1) see how I feel 2) to see if it affects my results. I do take 200mcg selenium every day and have been since August last year.

[Maya_83 in reply to bell22]

Hi Bell22..

Just curious as what benefits selenium has..

Thanks in advance

[bell22 in reply to Maya_83]

It’s meant to help conversion from inactive T4 to active T3. See here:

chriskresser.com/selenium-t...

Hope that helps!

[Maya_83 in reply to bell22]

Thank you so much for that info very interesting..

Can I ask where you purchase your selenium from and how much you take?? How long you've been having it for? Did you notice any change? And any side effects at all??

Kind regards

[bell22 in reply to Maya_83]

Usually from Amazon - Viridian is a good brand or this would be an excellent choice too purebio.co.uk/shop/index.ph.... I take 200mcg once a day and have been for the last 6 months. No side effects, but unfortunately I didn’t do my blood work before starting so don’t know if it making a difference.