Gluten Free / anti-bodies

[Greenwall]

Hi.

For the last 5 months I've been gluten free, as I was trying to reduce my thyroid anti-bodies.

In May they were TPO 79, and it's now 70. The TG was 616 and is now 520.

To me that's not a lot of difference, and I feel no different.

I admit there are more options at the shops these days, but eating out is difficult, as few places offer gluten free.

Does anyone think it's worth continuing gluten-free diet?

[greygoose]

If eating gluten-free doesn't make you feel any better, then no, there's no point. There is guarantee that the difference in your antibody levels is due to the gluten-free - nor that high levels of antibodies cause symptoms. Antibodies fluctuate all the time, so not surprising if their number goes down from time to time.

Besides, reducing your antibodies doesn't reduce your Hashi's. It will still be there. Antibodies are not in any way a measure of the severity of Hashi's.

[Nanaedake]

The number of antibodies you have might not be very significant. They serve to identify the cause of your thyroid disease rather than the severity.

If gluten activates antibodies to cause an attack on your thyroid gland which is revealed in variations in blood tests and gives you symptoms you might want to avoid it but if it makes no difference and you don't feel any better then there's no point in maintaining a gluten free diet unless you notice other health benefits.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well they have both dropped, so it might be worth continuing or reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

Have your vitamin levels also improved?

Or conversion of FT4 to FT3 improved as well?

[Greenwall in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes. TSH came down a smidge (0.1); T4 Total rose by 13; Free T4 rose by 1; Free T3 rose by 0.3; Ferratin rose by 16; serum folate rose by 1.3.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Greenwall]

Personally I would try continuing on gluten free diet

But I had astonishing improvement going strictly gluten free and awful symptoms when occasionally been accidentally glutened

[Greenwall in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks.

I hadn't noticed any symptom improvement.

Do you think it takes longer than 6 months to see an improvement?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Greenwall]

Every person is different

It can take a long time for brain fog to improve

Gluten can cross the blood brain barrier

verywellhealth.com/gluten-r...

drwillcole.com/what-gluten-...

[Greenwall]

Thanks for this. I'll go and have a read.