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Thyroid "totally Looks Like" Gluten?

ButterflyChaser

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ButterflyChaser Enthusiast
ButterflyChaser
Posted

Nerdchick at work again...

I keep coming across references to an alleged structural similarity between gluten and thyroid cells (the proteins that constitute the thyroid, I assume), which would explain why Hashimoto patients do better on a gluten-free diet regardless of having Celiac or not.

The rationale would be that when gluten enters the body, the antithyroid antibodies take gluten for an extra thyroid, freak out, and scream "OMG! There's ANOTHER ONE! We need more squads!" and the body increases the production of antibodies, and therefore the attack to the thyroid.

Can anyone point me to the medical source/study for this diffused claim? I am seeing my endo soon for a new set of tests, and I want something to torture her with... ;)

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Chaff Explorer
Chaff
Posted

Hm...I don't know about it looking like gluten. I have seen this page, where a guy talks about why the antibodies involved in celiac also attack the thyroid:

"I knew that attack on the thyroid was common in celiacs, because the celiac autoantigen tTG (it has a basic triplet) is also present in the thyroid and the celiac autoantibodies to tTG also cause an attack on the thyroid. But the autoantigen for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is thyroid peroxidase (TPO)."

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It's a bit greek to me, but it seems like you might be onto something with your idea.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

The only autoimmune disease we know the trigger for is celiac disease. All the others are not known at this point. We do know that people with celiac have a higher chance of getting other auto-immune diseases. My own personal "hunch" is that leaky gut plays a role in that. Protein fragments get in the blood stream and can cause an immune reaction in various parts of the body where they end up. But that's just a guess, there is no proof of that. I don't think the thyroid looks like gluten tho, that seems like a stretch. The leaky gut idea would mean gluten protein fragments end up in the thyroid, and then are attacked by the immune system. Then the body attacks the thyroid tissue where those gluten protein fragments are lodged. Same basic process as in the gut. In the process of attacking the gluten fragments in the thyroid, the immune system may learn to attack the thyroid also. This kind of process could cause rhuematoid arthritis to develop also. That's my 2 cent theory for today.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Nerdchick at work again...

I keep coming across references to an alleged structural similarity between gluten and thyroid cells (the proteins that constitute the thyroid, I assume), which would explain why Hashimoto patients do better on a gluten-free diet regardless of having Celiac or not.

The rationale would be that when gluten enters the body, the antithyroid antibodies take gluten for an extra thyroid, freak out, and scream "OMG! There's ANOTHER ONE! We need more squads!" and the body increases the production of antibodies, and therefore the attack to the thyroid.

Can anyone point me to the medical source/study for this diffused claim? I am seeing my endo soon for a new set of tests, and I want something to torture her with... ;)

Most organs in the human body have the ability to produce tTg antibodies. The thyroid, heart and liver are some, along with the pancreas. When you have undiagnosed Celiac, your body is in a constant state of inflammation. If you go long enough, this inflammation will aggravate other organs and they start to produce tTg antibodies. This is why when some people go gluten-free and still have elevated tTg antibodies, you need to be tested for other AI conditions. Elevated thyroid antibodies can keep your tTg levels high, even on the gluten-free diet. It took me 6 years to get my thyroid antibodies into the normal range and they were ridiculously high when diagnosed. I think that the problem stems from too much inflammation and the gluten-free diet brings inflammation way down so everything else begins to heal.

I did have a good laugh about torturing your endocrinologist, though! :lol:

ButterflyChaser Enthusiast
ButterflyChaser
Posted
  • Author

The only autoimmune disease we know the trigger for is celiac disease. All the others are not known at this point... My own personal "hunch" is that leaky gut plays a role in that. Protein fragments get in the blood stream and can cause an immune reaction in various parts of the body where they end up.

I second that - I do think there are triggers for other disorders as well. How does one diagnose leaky gut? I have found some contrasting information...

Elevated thyroid antibodies can keep your tTg levels high, even on the gluten-free diet. It took me 6 years to get my thyroid antibodies into the normal range and they were ridiculously high when diagnosed. I think that the problem stems from too much inflammation and the gluten-free diet brings inflammation way down so everything else begins to heal.

I did have a good laugh about torturing your endocrinologist, though! :lol:

Oh, she had to get used to my paranoia :) I am wondering if the gluten-free diet also reduces inflammation/tTg in patients who have not been diagnosed with celiac disease, though... I don't know what my next thyroid panel going to find (to be true, I am scared of finding out) but, in short, if there is anything I can do to prevent/delay the distruction of a vital organ, well, I guess I would be willing to go to some lengths, and if that means eating gluten-free for life, so be it!

"I knew that attack on the thyroid was common in celiacs, because the celiac autoantigen tTG (it has a basic triplet) is also present in the thyroid and the celiac autoantibodies to tTG also cause an attack on the thyroid. But the autoantigen for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is thyroid peroxidase (TPO)."

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Thank you, I will show this to my doctor. And I will keep doing more research.

Does anyone else here feel like they are desperately trying to get better?

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

"Does anyone else here feel like they are desperately trying to get better?"

Yes, please read as much as you can.

I have spent years learning the keys to my health. I do hope your answers are quicker, but know there have been MANY before you that havve struggled each day to obtain health and there will be many more that follow.

You are not alone - learn all you can.

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