Vitamin D Deficiency and Thyroid?

[CAMTDM]

I was just diagnosed with low D - my level was 8. An endocrinologist put me on 50,000 IU twice a week for 8 weeks, then I'm supposed to go to 800 per day after that. I originally went to him because my thyroid antibodies were 6x the normal rate. He said "obviously something is attacking your thyroid" then goes after the Vitamin D. Has anyone with this deficiency also had thyroid issues?

[TheLightSeeker]

Hi CAMTDM.

Well here are my 2 cents worth of wisdom.

Simplified as much as possible.

1.Most hypothyroid sufferers have gluten intolerance (not necessarily celiac's) and don't even know it!
The gluten molecules-mainly from gmo grains- resemble the TPO(Thyroid Peroxidase - an enzyme necessary for the signalling Thyroid hormone production) molecules and thus the immune system in its response against gluten, attacks the TPO in the Thyroid also!
Suggestion:
Look into Gliadin test (urine), by Cyrex labs. They test 12 forms-not just the alpha ordered by most doctors- of gliadins regarding gluten intolerance (not necessarily digestive).
Now they can also test which part of the body is affected!

2. Low/high blood sugar, vitamin D & thyroid connections.

a. High consumption of carbs, may lead to prolonged hyperglycemia, with a greater demand for insulin response, which may result in insulin resistance. There are studies that show higher incidence of auto-immune
thyroid destruction where there're very frequent spikes in insulin levels.
b.   Low blood sugar, causes increased cortisol production and when this is prolonged, it results in impaired pituitary function, affecting the thyroid at the same time!
c.The reverse also manifests in low thyroid function. (low thyroid causing
hypoglycemia)
The cells are not getting adequate glucose due to low thyroid, thus instigating an elevated cortisol release in order to increase the rate of glucose uptake into the cells, which causes prolonged  stress response and further affects the thyroid, as mentioned in b. (It's like a double edged sword).
d. Vitamin D regulates blood sugar and insulin levels.
There are vitamin D receptors in the small intestine. Hypothyroid sufferers commonly have inflamed G/I tissues, affecting Vitamin D absorption.
Low Vitamin D is associated with high cortisol, eventually leading to lower thyroid function.

Suggestion:
Follow a low carb, gluten free diet. incorporate many smaller well balanced meals, including healthy fats (important for hormonal synthesis thyroid and vitamin D absorption which is fat soluble) and quality proteins.
Test frequently your D3 levels -25(OH)D- and watch out for Vitamin D resistance, if levels are not increasing to 35pg/mg- 50pg/ml* in a few months.
*The jury is still out in the scientific community to what optimum D3 levels
should be.

Hope this helps, however, please note that my comments and
suggestions are not intended as a substitute for medical advice.

Cheers!
Niko

[djoyg]

First off...I'm not a dr (I just play one online...)
When your dr says that something is attacking your thyroid it is likely he means that YOU are attacking your thyroid. Your labs indicated that your antithyroid (attack against thyroid) antibodies (auto-antibodies or against self antibodies) are elevated, higher than normal. What this usually indicates is that your own immune system has begun to recognize your thyroid as a foreign body or entity. This is usually the beginning signs of an autoimmune thyroid disorder. While 6x high sounds excessive it likely is just the start of the condition, which ends up needed lifelong oversight. What usually happens  is that your immune system attacks your thyroid, antibodies start to elevate, your thyroid kicks it up a notch in an attempt to battle the antibodies (see hyperthyroid symptoms) it works harder and harder, your labs will keep increasing and at some point your antibodies will be crazy high and your thyroid will essentially konk out, exhausted, and your labs will indicate that you are hypothyroid (see hypothyroid symptoms). There nothing that I am aware of that can be done at this stage except watching and waiting. In the past drs used to treat with steroids in an effort to bring the antibodies down but that is prolonging the inevitable and steroids have nasty side effects whereas artificial thyroid is cheap, plentiful and most drs think side effect free.You are in the baby stages of an autoimmune thyroiditis. Once a person has one autoimmune condition it becomes far more likely that they will have more than one. Autoimmune conditions like to travel in groups. Could your low vit d levels be an indicator of another autoimmune condition? Absolutely. Celiac is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks Ares of your small intestine, potentially causing harm to the extent that you become malnourished regardless of how much you eat or no matter how many vitamin pills you swallow. If your villi are so damaged in your small intestines that your vit d levels barely go up or correct themselves after several months of treatment you have a very strong indicator of Celiac. Unless you have already had areas of small intestine removed or stomach stapling of some kind.
Following a person's vit d level is a good way to follow their Celiac condition. If one is adhering to a gluton free lifestyle the villi in their small intestine will heal and the vitamins from their food and supplements will be properly absorbed, at which point vit d (as well as other vitamins) will be in normal values.

[beasleyk2]

No thyroid problem but I had a very low count for Vitamin D need to get outside more for starters. You don't need to be in the sun that much but you do need to be outside more, once they got that under control that is when they figured out that there was another problem. they may not even be related. Having low vitamin D and a thyroid problem could be cause by two different things and may not even be related. Low vitamin D can be a problem in its self.