Evidence for gluten/ dairy free diet for Hashim... - Thyroid UK

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Evidence for gluten/ dairy free diet for Hashimoto’s

Knittingcat123 profile image
14 Replies

Hi everyone,

I mentioned a gluten free diet for my Hashimoto’s to my Endocrinologist who was sceptical. Does anyone have any scientific references I can quote?

Also I have pernicious anaemia and have found Martyn Hooper s book on the subject really helpful as is very accessible info .

So now I am looking for one on Hashimoto’s.

What is the go to book everyone reads?

Many thanks

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Knittingcat123
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14 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Doesn't matter what your endo thinks. If it makes you feel better, that's all that counts. And, it does make an awful lot of people feel better, so… :)

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to greygoose

True , thanks

Marz profile image
Marz

I notice you are new to the forum so possibly you have not read the many posts here concerning gluten. Scroll down for Related Posts where there are 10 similar posts about Gluten.

Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms - by Dr Datis Kharrazian could be a good source of information. I have not read that book but read his second book - Why Isn't My Brain Working. Both cover Hashimitos and Gluten. He also has a website where you can sign up for his Newsletters to keep up to date.

Dr Izabella Wentz is another source - with a book and website/Newsletters.

Mostly information shared between patients is more valuable than limited knowledge from Endos. You have demonstrated this by mentioning Martyn Hooper - a PA sufferer and not a Doc - who knows far more than any Dr about B12. Have you joined the PAS ? - then you will receive the Newsletters.

Dr Tom O'Bryan has a good website discussing gluten. If you add PubMed to your google searches you will be taken to the website of global research papers. There is also a SEARCH facility at the top of thus page.

PS I have Hashimotos and Crohns so being gluten free is helpful ..

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to Marz

Thanks. I have several health conditions and am under several different specialists. It seems I should do one thing for one condition and exact opposite for another. Very confusing.

I agree best way forward is to learn as much as possible, ask questions and with my drs, work out what suits me.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to Knittingcat123

I think we have to work out what suits us ourselves ! I joined this Forum in 2011 and read almost daily of the shocking treatment by doctors who are not up to speed ! Better to read and learn here 🥰

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to Marz

True, I agreed one needs to be proactive . Great forum

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to Knittingcat123

I see you have PA - and the other conditions are ? Only asking as I an wondering if being Gluten Free would also help ...🌻

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to Marz

Diabetes type. 2, diverticulosis and autoimmune atrophic gastritis. So yes a lot of inflammation and gut issues which you are right in saying gluten free diet may help.

Trouble is i like to cook and enjoy good food

And what with all the other food restrictions ie no nuts , legumes, low carb etc, not much left. True , health is the most important but ...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Knittingcat123

I cook more now I am gluten free than ever did before

Loads of interesting recipes

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Yes...most endocrinologists are still skeptical

But the ONLY way to know if strictly gluten free diet will help you is to try it

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested yet?

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten intolerance. Second most common is lactose intolerance

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks, I have been tested for coeliac and it is negative so I suppose that is why dr didn’t think gluten free diet was necessary however what you have said makes sense. Time lines to try it are very helpful too

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Knittingcat123

I had two negative coeliac blood tests twenty years apart...first one few years after starting on levothyroxine.

Endoscopy in 2016 confirmed severe gluten intolerance, not coeliac. Despite absolutely Zero gut symptoms...going strictly gluten free was astounding improvement. More on my profile

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to SlowDragon

Ok so I need to go gluten free

Will let you know how I get on

Knittingcat123 profile image
Knittingcat123 in reply to SlowDragon

Yes did get all those tests and ferritin stores always come up low even though haemoglobin

Is good . I have had iron infusions but treatment is so determined by being in “ normal range” even when I know I am symptomatic.

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