Autoimmune thyroid disease and gluten sensitivity

[Zizzle]

An article written by my dietician. It leaves no doubt about the relationship between both conditions.

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchi ... 0p52.shtml

Excerpt:
According to Mary Shomon, a nationally known thyroid advocate and author of The New York Times bestselling book The Thyroid Diet, “Hashimoto’s isn’t considered curable. Autoimmune diseases are usually lifelong. But for that subset of people that are triggered by underlying celiac disease or even gluten sensitivity, sometimes thyroid function goes completely back to normal. This only happens in a subset of patients, but some regain normal thyroid function and no longer need medication.”

Kathie Madonna Swift, MS, RD, LDN, a dietitian at the UltraWellness Center in Massachusetts, agrees: “We see a number of patients in our clinic who have [ATD] associated with both CD [celiac disease] and gluten sensitivity. Thus, if a patient has signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, gluten should be on your clinical radar screen.”

Many clinicians report that eating a gluten-free diet may help improve thyroid function in nonceliac gluten intolerance. “Getting gluten out is primary for patients with Hashimoto’s, even without celiac disease,” says Diana Bright, MS, RD, CCN, CLT, of Bright Integrative Solutions in Golden, Colo. “I find that many of my clients feel better.”
And in patients experiencing malabsorption due to celiac disease, a gluten-free diet will alter absorption levels and can change the amount of thyroid and other medications needed.

[Polly]

Hi Z.,

You will be interested to know that one of our early members here (AnnE from Canada) found that she could reduce her thyroid medication once she had been gluten-free for a while.

Love,

Polly

[Kari]

Zizzle - that's a great article and certainly gives hope to the likes of me!!! I have been on synthroid for 25 years. Will have to pay close attention to my levels as more time goes by on the gluten free diet. Thanks for posting it.

Love,
Kari

[Zizzle]

Incidentally, I now have 4 friends with Hashimoto's, all different ages and backgrounds. Two of them suffer from chronic idiopathic urticaria (mostly pressure, stress and heat-sensitive hives). I've done research for them and it seems related to/caused by the Hashimoto's. One woman in the literature was cured of her hives by getting her thyroid removed. Just wondering if anyone else with thyroid issues here deals with unexplained hives too, and whether a GF diet might help with it.

Luckily, my thyroid has always tested normal, and the docs seem perplexed by it with all the other autoimmune markers going on. I hope I can keep it that way!

[MBombardier]

Wow, thanks, Zizzle!! Very encouraging article!!