Thyroiditis connection with gluten sensitivity

[Sharon111]

Anyone have information about celiac/autoimmune thyroid connection.  I have discovered in my research that if you have hyperthyroidism you may also test positive for gluten sensitivity.  I have been recently dg with autoimmune thyroid disease.  If positive for gluten sensitivity maybe I can control the thyroid problem with a gluten free diet?  Any thoughts on the subject?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

They are both autoimmune diseases - separate problems, but people with one autoimmune disease are at risk to develop others.

[Sharon111]

What are your opinions on the possible connection stated in this particular article?  I am very interested in other thoughts as I would like to try to treat my autoimmune thyroid disease (waiting for further test results to find out what specifically I am diagnosed with) as naturally as I possibly can.  This is why I need and appreciate this expert forum. An excerpt of the article follows:

According to research recently reported on in the medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, a significant number of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease also have celiac disease. Celiac disease is a disorder that causes the intestines to react abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut, and other related grains.

"...researchers found that...organ-specific autoantibodies (i.e., thyroid antibodies) -- will disappear after 3 to 6 months of a gluten-free diet."
The researchers studied 172 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, and two control groups, and found that the 3.4% of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis had celiac disease, and the prevalence was only 0.6% and 0.25% among the control groups. The study also found that undiagnosed celiac disease may actually be part of the process that triggers an underlying autoimmune disease. In their findings they wrote: "We believe that undiagnosed celiac disease can cause other disorders by switching on some as yet unknown immunological mechanism. Untreated celiac patients produce organ-specific autoantibodies."

Of perhaps greatest importance to thyroid patients, the researchers found that the various antibodies that indicate celiac disease - organ-specific autoantibodies (i.e., thyroid antibodies) -- will disappear after 3 to 6 months of a gluten-free diet.
The researchers suggest that patients with autoimmune thyroiditis "may benefit from a screening for celiac disease so as to eliminate symptoms and limit the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders."

Impact for Thyroid Patients

This is important information for autoimmune thyroid disease patients (Hashimoto's Diseae, Graves' Disease) , who are typically told that there is nothing that can be done to reduce antibody levels, or to improve the "autoimmune" aspect of their thyroid conditions. While some recent books have reported on the impact of diet and nutrition on antibody levels, this research demonstrates scientifically how diet may in fact have a major role in autoimmune reactions.

To diagnose celiac disease, your doctor can do a blood test to measure the levels of antibodies to gluten. These antibodies are called antigliadin, anti-endomysium, and antireticulin. A preliminary diagnosis of celiac disease can be confirmed by the results of your going on a totally gluten-free diet, or, in more extreme cases, an intestinal biopsy.

Here is the link to the complete article for those who are interested:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/latestresearch/a/celiac.htm

Your thoughts please...Sharon

[thetaetazeta]

I think its almost certainly relevant. You go to a medical update conference weekend now and every speciality is talking the same same thing... systemic inflammation.... eg psoriasis, coronary artery disease, depression, metabolic syndrome / obesity all pro inflammatory states all connected by lifestyle, diet and the immune system.

Theres probably no point though starting on a fairly restrictive diet which will take a few months to be benefitial until your coeliac bloods come through which will only take a couple of days.

Even if they come back normal you can still look into diets that are anti-inflammatory eg by normalising your omega 6 : omega 3 ratio with fish oils, no transfats, nuts, moderate red wine, selenium, getting lots of exercise etc.....

[Applecore]

I have Hashimoto and celiac disease.  I find this very interesting and will follow my own results.  I had an antibody test taken a few months ago and will ask to have it checked again.  I have been on a gluten free diet and I have not cheated at all for about 1 year.  I don't know if it has lowered my antibodies or not.  I am going to a new endo soon and will check this theory out with her.  This is an endocrinology clinic and will certainly know something about this.  Thanks for this important information and one that will encourage me in staying on this diet.   By the way it is not a bad diet at all.  If you don't have any other food allergies (I do) it really isn't bad.  There are plenty of breads out there made with rice flour, corn flour and/or pototo flour.   It is an easy diet to follow and if you think it will make a difference try it.  It also will help you to lose weight as you don't eat so much sweets and bread.      linda