Gluten/Dairy restriction, can it really affect your blood results in a short time?

[Doubleelephant]

Hi, I have posted here before about levels/symptoms.

But I wanted to ask about elimination diets, particularly gluten and dairy and if it makes significant changes to one's blood tests.

I did an elimination diet in October, cutting out nightshades, nuts, soy along with dairy and gluten. I reintroduced the nightshades and I don't think I noticed any major digestive issues. I try to avoid soy but have resumed seeds and nuts.

But I remain gluten free as much as possible and low dairy.

I had a blood test done about two weeks ago but it was through the GP and was just the TSh at 1.68 done aroung midday and after meds in the morning. I am going to do another private test soon with T4 and T3 and B12/iron/vit d to check these.

Does anyone know if its the removal of these foods that just makes you feel less bloated/ tummy issues and may help with reducing muscle aches and brian fog, or can it actually alter your blood result ie. less inflammation will result in better absorption and and then your T4 will rise, meaning that you may have to alter your dose.

Thanks in advance if anyone has noticed changes in their blood results due to eliminating certain foods.

[waveylines]

Hi thyroid testing needs to be done around 9am without taking your levothyroxine that morning & fasting. After the test you can take your thyroid meds and eat normally. So the results you had would give a false high of your thyroid hormones. Needs retesting.

As for GF. To test this you need to be strictly GF not in the main GF.

As far a bloating etc is concerned if you gluten intolerant then yes after a fair few weeks you would fine an improvement as your gut heals.

However if you are under medicated for your hypothyroidism you can still have gut bloating and gut symotoms. This because are body rate if functioning is governed by how much thyroid hormone we have in our bodies. Too little and parts of the body can play up, including the guts.

[greygoose]

If all your doctor tested was the TSH, then taking your hormone beforehand would not affect the results. TSH doesn't move that fast. What affects TSH is the time of day. So, what time was your blood draw to get a TSH of 1.68?

If you are susceptable to any of those foods you mention then eliminating them might have a positive effect on your bloating. But, doubtful they would affect your absorption of levo. What affects your absorption is often low stomach acid, which most hypos have. Although being soy free might have a positive effect on absorption at a cellular level - although that wouldn't show up on a blood test.

With gluten you need to be 100% gluten-free for it to have any effect.

[Doubleelephant in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your response. I had asked for a T4 test but they just won’t do it in the lab if Tsh is in range. It’s very annoying.

I took the test at Midday.

[greygoose in reply to Doubleelephant]

So, your TSH would have been at its lowest point. Far better to have the blood draw before 9 am to get it at its highest.

[Doubleelephant in reply to greygoose]

thank you for your reply 🙏

[greygoose in reply to Doubleelephant]

You're welcome.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

It won't affect your blood results. If you find that it helps your gut then you have FODMAP issues, also on too low a dose. Perhaps look at the low FODMAP diet. monashfodmap.com/ibs-centra...

Dairy actually caused me a lot of pain and fatigue so definitely try a strictly dairy free diet for a few months to see if it helps. Gluten was more mental health, faitgue and general wellbeing. Eliminate them strictly one at a time to assess effects.

It's recommended to test at 9am or as close as possible for highest TSH result which varies throughout the day. If you test much later than this then your dose will be adjusted based on a lower result and you could end up under replaced.

Always leave 24 hours from last dose of Levo to blood test. I see that your GP has only tested TSH this time but that may not always be the case and again you could end up on a lower dose than you need if you take your Levo before the test and the peak T4 is tested as oppsoed to the stable blood levels.