Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Thyroid "totally Looks Like" Gluten?

ButterflyChaser

Recommended Posts

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... ;)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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)."

Open Original Shared Link

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)."

Open Original Shared Link

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.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      0

      When Gluten-Free Food Is Unavailable: A Child's Struggle Highlights the Hidden Risks for People with Celiac Disease

    2. Churley
      - Churley replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      10

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    3. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions...
    4. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know. I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past...
    5. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      20

      Insomnia help

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,347
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Carla Mort
    Newest Member
    Carla Mort
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Churley
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Churley · Posted

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions to it, so different for everyone.  
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know.  I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past, but going to try it at 5k units a day. having a pth test on friday, which is suspect will be high. my homocysteine has come down to around 9 with 3 weeks of these supplements and expect it to go down further. i also started on estrogen/progesterone. I have osteoporosis too, so that is why the hormones.  anyway, i think all celiacs should have homocysteine checked and treated if needed (easy enough with b vit, tmg). homocysteine very bad thing to be high for a whole host of reasons. all the bad ones, heart attack , stroke, alzi, cancer..... one of the most annoying things about celiacs (and there are so many!) is the weight gain. i guess i stayed thin all those years being undiagnosed because i was under absorbing everything including calories. going gluten-free and the weight gain has been terrible, 30#, but i'm sure a lot more went into that (hip replacement - and years of hip pain leading to inactivity when i was previously very active, probably all related to celiacs, menopause) yada yada. i seemed to lose appetite control, like there was low glp, or leptin or whatever all those hormones are that tell you that you are full and to stop eating. my appetite is immense and i'm never full. i guess decades or more ( i think i have had celiacs since at least my teens - was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea for which spastic colon was eventually diagnosed and had many episodes of diarrhea/abdominal pain through my 20's. but that symptom seemed to go away and i related it to dairy much more so than gluten. Also my growth was stunted, i'm the only shorty in my family. anyway, decades of malabsorption and maldigestion led to constant hunger, at least thats my theory. then when i started absorbing normally, wham!! FAT!!!    
    • nanny marley
      Insomnia help

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I don't always sleep well at the best of times , racing mind catches up I have decorated my whole house in one night in my mind before 🤣 diet changes mindset really help , although I have to say it never just disappears, I find once I came to terms with who I am I managed a lot better  , a misconception is for many to change , that means to heal but that's not always the case , understanding and finding your coping mechanisms are vital tools , it's more productive to find that because there is no failure then no pressure to become something else , it's ok to be sad it's ok to not sleep , it's ok to worry , just try to see it has a journey not a task 🤗
    • nanny marley
      nothing has changed

      By nanny marley · Posted

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.