Another reason why hypos may have trouble absorbing nutrients

[ilyfunnybunny]

In the midst of trying to figure out my own situation, I found this article that talks about the small intestine in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rats.

Apparently (not unlike the mechanisms in celiac disease) a hypothyroid state results in shorter and thicker intestinal villi, which are supposed to be long and thin in order to absorb nutrients from our food.

So, on top of low stomach acid, this may be something people want to consider if they're wondering why the hell they still seem to be having symptoms of nutrient deficiency despite a healthy diet, supplements, etc. (Perhaps this is also why gluten-free diets seem to help hypothyroid patients feel so much better? Because gluten irritates an already struggling small intestine?)

Anyway, article below.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/275...

[Baobabs]

Very useful information!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I keep wondering at what is often said about low stomach acid in hypothyroidism.

Yes, I do believe it occurs quite frequently.

But the question I always ask is what happens in the small intestine? Usually the acidity of the stomach is neutralised and goes the other way to become alkaline. (And note that it is very largely this alkaline environment which allows levothyroxine to dissolve and get absorbed.)

What if low stomach acid is followed by low small intestinal alkalinity? Or, indeed, high alkalinity? I don't knwo which happens but it seems reasonable to suspect that one or the other is likely.

Could this altered alkalinity be one fo the reasons our ability to absorb nutrients (and medicines) is affected?

Or is this utterly fanciful nonsense?

I have tried to search but the right search feng shui has eluded me so far.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to helvella]

So hard to find science that fits into this stomach - AI gap! And it’s so important to us all.

Gwyneth Paltrow ventures a lot into the acid - alkali realms but her woo woo - me me - super-consumerist plane is not really where I want to get my science.

[HowNowWhatNow]

apologies for reviving an ancient thread. Not sure how I found it but it’s interesting!