Iron: Not Just a Passive Bystander in AITD

[helvella]

A new paper discussing that very common issue - iron.

I've only glanced at it so please comment freely.

Iron: Not Just a Passive Bystander in AITD

by Michał Szklarz

Katarzyna Gontarz-Nowak

Wojciech Matuszewski

Elżbieta Bandurska-Stankiewicz

Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland

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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Academic Editors: Roberto Iacone and Gladys Oluyemisi Latunde-Dada

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4682; doi.org/10.3390/nu14214682

Received: 30 September 2022/ Revised: 27 October 2022/ Accepted: 3 November 2022/ Published: 5 November 2022

(This article belongs to the Section Micronutrients and Human Health)

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Abstract

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is the most prevalent autoimmune disease all over the world and the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in areas of iodine sufficiency. The pathogenesis of AITD is multifactorial and depends on complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, with epigenetics being the crucial link. Iron deficiency (ID) can reduce the activities of thyroid peroxidase and 5′-deiodinase, inhibit binding of triiodothyronine to its nuclear receptor, and cause slower utilization of T3 from the serum pool. Moreover, ID can disturb the functioning of the immune system, increasing the risk of autoimmune disorders. ID can be responsible for residual symptoms that may persist in patients with AITD, even if their thyrometabolic status has been controlled. The human lifestyle in the 21st century is inevitably associated with exposure to chemical compounds, pathogens, and stress, which implies an increased risk of autoimmune disorders and thyroid dysfunction. To summarize, in our paper we discuss how iron deficiency can impair the functions of the immune system, cause epigenetic changes in human DNA, and potentiate tissue damage by chemicals acting as thyroid disruptors.

Keywords: AITD; thyroid; iron deficiency

Full paper freely accessible here:

mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/21/46...

[FAB-jellybean]

That was really interesting, thanks helvella . For me, the stand out line in the whole thing was "AITD results in hypothyroidism in 20–30% of patients." I had assumed that most people with AITD would be hypothyroid (or hyper) eventually, so that was a surprise.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to FAB-jellybean]

I'm not convinced that sentence actually says what it was meant to!

Certainly there are many who have had at least one positive Thyroid Peroxidase antibody test who have not gone on to be hypothyroid.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Certainly there are many who have had at least one positive Thyroid Peroxidase antibody test who have not gone on to be hypothyroid

Are you saying that 20-30% is too high an estimate and that fewer Hashi’s develop hypothyroidsm as a result of AITD?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Noelnoel]

I strongly suspect the answer is that we don't know.

The problem being largely the population who have never had a TPOab test, or have only had a negative test.

Makes any assessment of statistics difficult. As does the fact that in time, the number who become hypothyroid will increase.

Remember that a lone positive TPOab can occur in other circumstances such as physical injury to the thyroid gland (seatbelt in car crash being often quoted).

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Ok, makes sense

[topaz1]

Thanks helvella. I think I may just send this to my GP when I ask for a 6 month ferritin blood test in January.

[dtate2016]

Great science to back up what many naturopaths are saying here in the US. I plan to show it to the MD that has helped me follow their guidance. I have heard for a very long time (including here in HealthUnlocked) that iron deficiency was a part of the puzzle in navigating back to good health and away from Hashimoto's. This article, while filled with medical terms, helps us to explore how we might take a look at iron deficiency in each individual. I thought it was also key to note how this article also mentioned that Hashimotos occurs when sufficient iodine is present: "AITD is the most prevalent autoimmune disease all over the world and the most frenquent cause of hypothyroidism in areas of iodine sufficiency."

Looking forward to other articles that speak more about the "multi-factoral" causes of Hashimotos. This thing is winnable - with perseverance.

[Noelnoel]

I’ve read only the opening statement not the full article but if we don’t know anything else about iron deficiency we should know this!

Iron deficiency (ID) can reduce the activities of thyroid peroxidase and 5′-deiodinase, inhibit binding of triiodothyronine to its nuclear receptor, and cause slower utilization of T3 from the serum pool

Because of this forum I learnt how crucial iron is to good health. No, I’ll say that a different way. I’ve always know it was crucial but I didn’t know just how crucial and I definitely had only a rudimentary “understanding” of why

Thank you helvella. I know you posted this 9 months ago but perhaps you might consider re-posting it because everybody should see it even if they read only the first part

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Noelnoel]

Re-posted!

[Noelnoel]

Thank you. You and your colleagues are worth your weight in gold to this forum. As are many non-admins

Thank you, all

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Noelnoel]

Thank you - and especially good that you expressly mentioned the non-admins who are so important.