gut health and absorption issues : I’m aware from... - Thyroid UK

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gut health and absorption issues

bikebabe profile image
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I’m aware from previous posts that hypothyroidism is associated with poor gut health ie gluten/coeliac issues, malabsorption of minerals and vitamins.

Is that the case for all causes/types of hypothyroidism and if so might you be able to explain the how and why.

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bikebabe
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RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Very quickly and briefly...

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency of thyroid hormones, regardless of the cause. An individually appropriate level of thyroid hormones are required for any and every part of the body and brain to function properly.

Stomach acid is required to digest and absorb nutrients from food and drink. Lack of thyroid hormone can result in too little stomach acid being produced, which in turn will result in inefficient digestion, absorption etc.

As well, there's a potential for intestinal infection (SIBO for example thyroiduk.org/related-condi... )

By the time an individual is actually diagnosed with hypothyroidism, they will likely have had low stomach acid for quite some time.

An internet search via your favourite search engine will likely turn up lots of related links. Here's one discussion of the thyroid-gut connection chriskresser.com/the-thyroi...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to RedApple

Now that I've picked up on your post, others will hopefully chime in with more info! 😊

Sleepman profile image
Sleepman

I am very interested in this also. My Mum is celiac and hypo.

I am recently diagnosed as hypo (autoimmune). I am gluten intolerant (no gluten anitbodies on blood test).

I stopped gluten for a year before finding out about thyroid. Apart from feeling cold the symptoms are so similar as with other AI conditions too.

I seem to be getting thyroid under control now. I tried gluten again recently and it knocked me backwards - fatigue, numbness in hands and big toe, worse loose guts than normal. Took more than a week to settle. ( battered fish and bacon butty)

I am presuming my gluten intolerance is a leaky gut letting gluten type proteins into blood. The same antibodies that attacked my thyroid I think (is it TPO)

bikebabe profile image
bikebabe in reply to Sleepman

Sleep man - that’s quite a profound discovery to make. No more battered fish or bacon butties! 😞. I’ve had hypothyroidism since childhood but was over treated until 35 yrs then it was free fall since menopause. It’s only now that I’m having symptoms like you report but hard to know if it’s impact of oral cancer drugs or much lower free T4 levels or maybe both. Guess I need to try it out which will be very very hard. 😢

Sleepman profile image
Sleepman in reply to bikebabe

Sorry to hear about you cancer. My best pal is fighting it the moment too.I suspect I can have traces of gluten and be ok. My Mum cannot handle even chips cooked in oil that has had wheat floor.

I am finding GF ok.

Eating at home is fine.

Most gluten free bakery goods are chemical soups, expensive and nasty/disappointing.

Indian food mainly ok.

Chinese eating out is not good as soy and oyster sauce will not be GF.

There was a good post on this tonight. SlowDragon posted. Title

Coeliac / Gluten intolerance

bikebabe profile image
bikebabe in reply to Sleepman

thank you

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