Is There a Connection Between Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Celiac Disease?
For many years I’ve wondered if I could somehow reverse my Hashimotos Thyroiditis by finding the “root” problem. I began to entertain the thinking that there was a connection between autoimmune thyroid disease and gluten sensitivity. After some research, I found articles that seemed to point me further in that direction like the following one from Mary Shomon:
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.”
Celiac disease, which is sometimes referred to as celiac sprue, sprue, or gluten intolerance, makes it difficult for the body to properly absorb nutrients from foods.
You can read the full article here.
Now, the reason I brought this up is that I tried a gluten free diet for 6 months to prove to the world that the connection was there! Prior to this I was already enjoying success in eating according to the wonderful book, Nourishing Traditions, written by Sally Fallon, and my medication had dropped by one third so I thought I was on the “right road”. So I added to that a gluten free diet in 2006 just knowing I was going to find the “answer” to this disease. 
Okay, well… I tried. I not only went gluten free, but sugar, and preservative (which I do anyway) free, too! I also consumed live raw milk based Kefir to help re-supply the gut with probiotics. My antibody count went from somewhere around 1,800 to like 3,400 in the six months! As you can imagine, I was horrified. I expected the opposite. I was ready to celebrate but you can imagine the crash I experienced when I heard the numbers. My TSH improved but my dose of medication was slightly increased during this time also so that didn’t really mean anything to me.
Am I saying that a gluten free diet can’t improve this disease? No. But I am saying that it didn’t work for me. Reflecting back on all of this brought up some interesting points.
- I did not eliminate corn during this time. I have a hunch that corn could be a culprit. Don’t ask me why. I will continue my research on this one. I have heard many discouraging studyies on the dangers of corn in our diet so I will just leave it at that until I have a better grasp on the possible concerns with consuming it in our diet.
- I continued to eat raw honey (which I don’t believe is a culprit but I will confess to it’s usage in moderation).
- I was not exercising to the capacity I believe would aid in the healing process.
- I was not taking any supplements at that time which could indicate a “missing component” to the process.
I would love to get feedback from others that have tried a similar journey. I truly believe we can work together to find the natural cure!
Maureen
54 Comments to “Is There a Connection Between Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Celiac Disease?”
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I noticed at the beginning of this thread that someone states that they don’t eat corn in Europe….oh yes they do, its added to most things that are processed and many breads, cereals and biscuits and cakes have huge amounts of corn in them.
Although there is evidence that gluten and Hashimoto’s are related, what is interesting is there is also evidence that high Bromine intake relative to iodine intake is also a cause. In many areas, Bromine is used in bread (was iodine before WW II). If someone avoids gluten they are also likely avoiding one of the key sources of Bromine other than certain sodas and other drinks. The atomic structure of Bromine and Iodine are very close so it is easy to suspect that high Bromine could cause issues for the Thyroid.
i think the effects of diet on autoimmune disease seem to be complex, and maybe different for different people.
i have hashimoto’s and symptoms of adrenal problems, and i personally have symptoms from a number of foods that do not* contain gluten. all grains but brown rice, as well as most fruits and vegetables, to be exact. put simply i have a reaction of some kind to most foods, and exposure to one thing seems to increase my reaction to other things.
raw, unfiltered honey seems to cause symptoms for me, possibly because it stimulates the immune system. so i use it only sometimes.
aerobic exercise improves my energy and mood, and clears my head a little. but this became true only after (at least temporarily): modifying my daily diet to eliminate most foods, most chemicals, and some vitamins and minerals; increasing my water intake, switching to distilled or purified water, switching to sea salt, and slowly working up to more active exercise like dance and running. previously, strenuous exercise often made me so fatigued that i could lie down and go to sleep at any hour.
i do consume a wider variety of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals on a weekly rather than daily basis, because i am worried about malnutrition, poor antioxidants, and cancer!
Thank you for your comment. I too have other food allergies/reactions. However, the scariest of them all (head inflammation) has been so minimized by eliminating gluten meticulously, that I am not walking around scared all the time I am going to die! I do believe that healing starts in the gut and all types of foods can cause inflammatory reactions depending on our individual circumstances internally. Over time, I think eliminating gluten and allowing the gut to repair is a big step to healing – but for most of us with chronically impaired intestinal permeability issues, it can take months to years to reverse and heal. I am only going on year ONE, so I am feeling like I am on my way but possibly still a ways away. But at least I have started.
It’s great to see someone listening to their body like you are. I hope you continue to find what works for you. 
MO