Hashimoto’s and Gut Health: What New Research Says About the Microbiome
One of the most frustrating experiences for people with Hashimoto’s is hearing that their thyroid numbers look “normal” while they still struggle with fatigue, brain fog, digestive symptoms, joint pain, or feeling unlike themselves.
For years, these lingering symptoms were often dismissed as unrelated to the thyroid. But a growing body of research suggests another system may deserve attention: gut health, particularly the trillions of microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome
Why You Still Feel Terrible with Normal Thyroid Labs: The Research on Euthyroid Hashimoto’s
One of the most common things I hear from new patients is some version of this:
“My doctor ran my labs and said everything looks fine. But I feel exhausted, anxious, and foggy all the time. They told me it must be something else.”
If this is your experience, I want you to know something important before we get into the research: you are not imagining it, and the science has been saying so for over a decade.
Hashimoto’s Winter Research Update 2022
The researchers found that the level of TPO antibodies correlated with the grade of thyroid inflammation. This makes a lot of common sense, higher antibodies = more thyroid destruction. The following symptoms were found to be higher in the patients with elevated TPO antibodies: chronic fatigue, dry hair, chronic irritability, chronic nervousness, dysphagia, and easily fatigued. Remember, the study participants all have normal thyroid hormone levels. The researchers also found that higher TPO levels were associated with an overall decreased quality of life.
Hashimoto’s Research Update Summer 2021
What if you have elevated thyroid antibodies but your TSH isn’t elevated yet, ie it’s Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) but not yet progressed to hypothyroidism? Conventionally patients are often told to just watch and wait. Wait until it turns into hypothyroidism, then you can take medication.
This study published in 2016 demonstrated that supplementing with vitamin D actually reduced thyroid antibodies and prevented the progression of HT into hypothyroidism. So there is something you can do instead of just watch and wait.
Hashimoto’s Research Update Winter 2021
Authored by Dr. Barrett Myo-inostiol and Selenium for Hashimoto’s (2017) You might already know that selenium can be very helpful for Hashimoto’s. It’s an antioxidant that supports the production of glutathione. Selenium is helpful in reducing anti TPO antibodies. This study compared patients using selenium alone and selenium with myo-inositol. Inositol is involved in cell […]
Hashimoto’s Research Update Summer 2020
Authored by Dr. Barrett I am starting up a new blog series to highlight research updates for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT). My intention is to review recent literature every 6 months. I am starting by pulling together a variety of research articles until I feel ‘caught up’ (will I ever feel caught up?!) and will then […]