Some experts say that thyroid antibodies don’t matter. They say you do not need to lower them, because they don’t actually attack thyroid tissue.
Respectfully, I disagree.
There is plenty of research that shows that the presence of thyroid antibodies has deleterious effects on our health, even when our TSH levels are normal.
I’ve worked with thousands of Hashimoto’s patients over the years who will tell you about their dramatic health improvements when they reduced their thyroid antibodies. I also personally know the difference in my health when I have thyroid antibodies versus when I don’t.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What are thyroid antibodies and how do they develop?
- The different areas of our health that can be impacted by thyroid antibodies
- How to test for thyroid antibodies
How and Why Do Thyroid Antibodies Form?
Thyroid antibodies stem from something called “a lack of self-tolerance.” This is when the body starts viewing its own tissue as a foreign invader. It is no longer “tolerant” of itself, and this is what leads to an autoimmune condition.
How does this happen?
Think of this process as a case of mistaken identity. First, microbial triggers or bacterial cells from an infection actually do trigger the body’s immune system to attack the invading cells. But due to something called molecular mimicry, the body may then target other cells that resemble these invaders. This can result in the immune system attacking its own body.
Triggers for this process can vary from person to person and can be food sensitivities, nutrient depletions, toxin exposures, chronic infections, a poor stress response, and a number of other things. Some triggers can also lead to intestinal permeability (leaky gut) issues as well, like what happens in those with gluten sensitivity.
In most cases of Hashimoto’s, this lack of self-tolerance starts to occur before thyroid function is affected – often before symptoms even occur.
When the body begins this breakdown of its immune tolerance, we’re initially going to see the presence of elevated thyroid antibodies.
But My TSH Level is Normal!
“My doctor said my TSH level is normal, so why should I worry about testing for thyroid antibodies?”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this in my clinical practice and from readers.
Personally, I spent almost a decade undiagnosed because I only had my TSH tested, and my thyroid diagnosis was completely missed. I had been told that my thyroid was normal even though my TSH was 4.5 μIU/mL.
That left me struggling with progressively worse symptoms for almost ten years — symptoms like chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and hair loss, to name a few of many.
By the time I was finally tested for TPO antibodies, they were in the 2000 IU/mL range. (To put that in perspective, the optimal range is less than 2 IU/mL). Plus, I had developed new-onset panic attacks and was struggling with my day-to-day life.
This is why I’m so passionate about advocating for you to get the proper tests and for you to understand your tests. Had I known then what was happening in my body, I could have taken on the lifestyle modifications and treatment steps necessary to not only alleviate my progressing symptoms, but also prevent further damage to my thyroid.
In many cases, thyroid antibodies are going to be the first indication of a thyroid problem. They can be elevated for five, ten, and sometimes even 15 years before a change in TSH is detected! Keep in mind that the presence of thyroid antibodies means that there is an active destruction going on against your thyroid.
Elevated thyroid antibodies, even in the presence of a “normal TSH”, means that it’s only a matter of time before your thyroid becomes destroyed to the point it can no longer produce sufficient amounts of hormones.
Thyroid Antibodies and Your Health
While some doctors and experts argue that thyroid antibodies don’t matter as long as TSH levels are normal, I have to disagree. Not only have I seen the deleterious effects of thyroid antibodies on health personally and in my practice, but there is also research connecting the presence of antibodies to a number of physical and mental health effects.
When people start developing thyroid antibodies, they may start to exhibit a number of different non-specific symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, stress, miscarriages, hair loss, weight gain, and a general feeling of being unwell.
Without verifying the presence of thyroid antibodies, these types of symptoms may not be associated with developing thyroid disease, and they may end up being misdiagnosed as other things such as anxiety, fatigue (perhaps even laziness!), depression, menopause, or even hypochondria. I have personally seen a number of clients who were diagnosed with depression and even bipolar disease, as a result of having elevated thyroid antibodies for years.
Here are some of the ways that thyroid antibodies can impact your health and well-being:
Overall Well-Being
A 2012 study determined that thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody positivity was associated with poor physical and psychological well-being, and also appeared to predict future health perception in Hashimoto’s patients. [1]
The study examined 64 Hashimoto’s patients who had normal thyroid function, but elevated thyroid antibodies (this is known as euthyroidism). Researchers found that those with TPO antibodies had poorer physical and psychological well-being, compared to TPO-negative Hashimoto’s patients, despite both groups being euthyroid. Results are based on the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), a 90-item multidimensional self-report symptom inventory using a 5-point rating scale.
Anxiety
A study in 2004 found an association between the presence of a mood or anxiety disorder and the presence of anti-TPO antibodies. [2] It also noted that a slight reduction in thyroid hormone secretion (such as that found in subclinical hypothyroidism) may affect mood as well. Therefore, it’s possible that the anxiety you are feeling may be related to your thyroid. In fact, Trudy Scott, a nutritionist who specializes in anxiety, reports that up to 50 percent of her clients with anxiety have Hashimoto’s!
Personally, anxiety was one of the most challenging and disempowering symptoms I experienced when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. It progressed as my thyroid symptoms in general worsened (though at the time, I didn’t know I had thyroid antibodies), and once I finally got my thyroid antibodies down, I felt significant relief from anxiety.
Selenium and myo-inositol are two supplements that I have found to be helpful for anxiety in those with Hashimoto’s, likely due to their ability to lower thyroid antibodies. [3]
Depression
Depression is an incredibly common symptom in those with Hashimoto’s. Most people are unaware of how frequently Hashimoto’s (and other thyroid disorders) and depression co-occur. A 2018 review paper found that “the chance of developing symptoms of depression that were of clinical relevance is 3.3 times higher among patients with hypothyroidism compared with healthy controls.” [4]
In addition to the study mentioned above, there have been other studies that highlight the link between thyroid antibodies and depression. A study in 2004 found an association between the presence of a mood disorder, and the presence of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. [5]
In my experience, appropriate identification and treatment of a thyroid condition can resolve symptoms of depression. I’ve also seen plenty of instances where people have enjoyed well-deserved levels of health and happiness after addressing the underlying root causes and consequences of thyroid disease.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The most common type of anxiety disorder reported in people with thyroid antibodies is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). [6]
OCD is also more common in Type A personalities (like me and many other pharmacists, and likely many of you out there too). I noticed my own OCD tendencies used to flare up with rising thyroid antibodies, and then reduce as my antibodies dropped.
There is a growing body of research revealing a connection between Hashimoto’s and OCD symptoms. A 2019 review showed that OCD is associated with low-grade inflammation, neural antibodies, neuro-inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders. [7]
I’d also like to point out another potential way that Hashimoto’s and OCD are connected, and that’s through Streptococcus. Scientists first looked at the immune system connection in a condition known as PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders), where children developed OCD symptoms after having Streptococcus infections (the bacteria that results in the common throat infection known as “strep throat”). [8]
Interestingly, I have found that those with Hashimoto’s tend to have higher levels of Streptococcus in their guts. In 2015, my team and I analyzed data collected from 298 people with Hashimoto’s who took the BioHealth 401H stool test (to identify gut pathogens). We found that 58 percent of our samples had some level of Streptococcus (although only about 25 percent had abnormal levels based on conventional lab ranges).
For some, working to eradicate high levels of Streptococcus in the gut can help with OCD symptoms, and for others, lowering thyroid antibodies will be hugely helpful (some people may need to address both potential causes).
Selenium and myo-inositol are two supplements that have been shown to lower thyroid antibodies, and I often recommend them for those with Hashimoto’s, as research has shown that they also happen to reduce obsessive-compulsive symptoms. [9] Taken together, they are especially effective!
Fertility
Additionally, selenium and myo-inositol can help support healthy pregnancy outcomes. Infertility and pregnancy complications are common in women with Hashimoto’s. This could be due to a number of factors, but it is fascinating to know that thyroid antibodies have been found to be directly pathogenic to the reproductive organs.
A 2022 study examining thyroid autoimmunity in female infertility and IVF outcomes showed that oocyte fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates were lower in women with thyroid antibodies than in negative controls, while the rate of early miscarriage was higher. [10]
The “follicle hypothesis” suggests that antibodies can actually pass through the blood-follicle barrier, and that the presence of antibodies may create a cytotoxic environment that can damage maturing eggs, thus reducing egg quality and fertilization potential.
Cognitive Function
Thyroid antibodies can even affect your brain, and those with Hashimoto’s are at a higher risk for cognitive disorders. Research has shown that antibodies can induce damage to the brain, even when thyroid function is normal, and this can lead to impaired hippocampal-dependent learning and memory function. [11]
Brain fog is a common symptom with Hashimoto’s, and antibodies may play an important role. I noticed that once my Hashimoto’s symptoms increased, my brain became “fuzzy”… and I frequently had a hard time remembering even common words mid-sentence (“You know, that animal with the fur? Yes, a cat!”).
It was a really scary feeling, and it got so bad that I took an assessment to rule out dementia. It was also exhausting trying to hide my embarrassing memory problems from the people in my life. Keep in mind, I was in my twenties when all this happened. Elevated thyroid antibodies were likely to blame!
Blood Sugar
Those with anti-TPO antibody levels over 1,000 IU/mL may experience higher levels of insulin resistance and less HDL (the good cholesterol). In a clinical study on 63 patients with Hashimoto’s and 49 patients with hypothyroidism, who all had normal thyroid function as a result of levothyroxine therapy, researchers found no significant differences between those with and without Hashimoto’s, but did find that those with antibodies over 1,000 IU/mL had elevated fasting insulin levels and lower serum HDL levels. [12]
This is important to note, as many people with Hashimoto’s have issues with blood sugar regulation, which can then make their symptoms worse. In fact, working to balance blood sugar is often one of my first recommendations for people with Hashimoto’s!
Cholesterol
It’s well established that thyroid hormone has a direct effect on cholesterol levels, and that those with hypothyroidism tend to have higher levels of cholesterol and lipids, impacting the risk for cardiovascular disease. [13]
Research is starting to show the relationship between thyroid antibodies and dyslipidemia. A 2021 study found that all types of lipids, including LDL, HDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol, were higher in those with Hashimoto’s. [14] The study also looked at the relationship between each type of antibody and specific markers. They found that there was a significant positive correlation between anti-TPO antibodies and LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, and no significant correlation with HDL. Anti-TG antibodies were found to also have a significant correlation with LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, but there was no correlation detected with HDL. Even for patients who are euthyroid (where their thyroid hormone levels appear to be in normal ranges), the presence of antibodies can influence lipid levels.
As mentioned in the study regarding blood sugar, Hashimoto’s patients with antibodies over 1,000 IU/mL were found to have lower serum HDL levels. [15] Researchers are still working to understand the full extent of how thyroid antibodies impact cholesterol levels.
Testing for Thyroid Antibodies
There are three main types of antibodies in Hashimoto’s that are potentially going to be present. Two of them are created by the immune system to target the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign invader like a pathogen, and those are thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies.
80-90 percent of people with Hashimoto’s will have either TPO or TG antibodies, or both. [16] The more elevated the thyroid antibodies are, the greater the likelihood of developing overt hypothyroidism, as well as possibly additional autoimmune conditions.
Where do these antibodies come from? The current scientific thinking is that activated B-cells in the thyroid gland and lymph nodes secrete these antibodies, and that they react solely as markers but don’t necessarily attack the thyroid gland themselves. They likely activate T-cells, which then do the actual damage to the thyroid gland.
The third type of thyroid antibodies is TSH-Receptor (TSH-R) antibodies, including thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). This particular marker is elevated in more than 90 percent of people with Graves’ disease. [17] TSH-R antibodies are also more common in people who have thyroid cancer. [18]
Another TSH-R antibody is known as TSH-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII). This is elevated in over 50 percent of people with Graves’ disease. [19]
If You Don’t Test Positive for Thyroid Antibodies, Can You Still Have Hashimoto’s?
Current medical reports state that 80-90 percent of people with Hashimoto’s will have TPO antibodies. That said, researchers at the University of Wisconsin’s Thyroid Multidisciplinary Clinic found that only half of the patients who tested positive for Hashimoto’s through cytology (when thyroid cells are withdrawn by a thin needle and then evaluated under a microscope) had TPO antibodies. [20] This means that a person can have Hashimoto’s even if their thyroid antibody test is negative. This variant of Hashimoto’s, known as serum negative Hashimoto’s, is less aggressive and slower to develop.
Additionally, researchers have identified that the body may produce other thyroid antibodies that are not yet available outside of research labs, but may also play a role in thyroid disease, including sodium-iodine symporter (NISAb) and pendrin (PenAb). [21] The clinical relevance of these antibodies is not yet understood, but as with all emerging research, we just want to be aware of it. NISAb is found in 17 percent of people with Hashimoto’s, and pendrin is found in 11 percent.
Thyroid antibodies are tested through a simple blood test. If your physician is not receptive to testing your antibodies, you have the option of ordering your lab tests through Ulta Lab Tests. They offer self-order options with discounted panels that I set up with them, which can be ordered anywhere in the U.S. You will receive a lab order that can be taken to your local lab, and the results will be sent to you electronically.
In many cases, you can self-order the labs and then send the receipts for reimbursement to your insurance. (Please check with your insurance to ensure that they will accept this, as well as to understand the required submission procedures.)
The three tests can be found here:
Alternatively, you can opt for a full thyroid panel which includes tests for TSH, free T3, free T4, and two of the thyroid antibodies (TPO and TG).
For additional information on the full thyroid panel, you can also review this article.
I often get messages from readers asking me to comment on their personal thyroid labs. Unfortunately, I can’t provide medical advice through the internet without doing a personalized comprehensive case review. (This is for my readers’ own safety as well as complying with professional liability laws.) However, I created some lab interpretation information for them that I will share with you below.
If your doctor is ordering these labs for you, be sure to request a copy for yourself to ensure that they are interpreted correctly. Also, note that this information is based on optimal functional medicine ranges and my clinical experience, and may not be recognized by doctors who are not familiar with functional medicine.
Thyroid Panel Reference and Optimal Ranges
When I look at my clients’ labs, I focus on optimal reference ranges. Here’s a handy reference chart I use from the Institute of Functional Medicine.
| Test Name | Standard Reference Range | Optimal Reference Range |
| TSH | 0.4-5.5 μIU/mL | 0.5-2 μIU/mL, 0.5-2.5 μIU/mL in elderly |
| Free T4 | 9-23 pmol/L | 15-23 pmol/L |
| Free T3 | 3-7 pmol/L | 5-7 pmol/L |
| Reverse T3 | 11-21 ng/dl | 11-18 ng/dl |
| TPO Antibodies | <35 IU/mL | <2 IU/mL |
| TG Antibodies | <35 IU/mL | <2 IU/mL |
You can see here that the normal reference range for TPO and TG antibodies is <35 IU/mL. According to conventional standards, this means that a person is not going to test for Hashimoto’s within this range. The optimal functional medicine range is less. We look for TPO and TG antibodies of <2 IU/mL.
Some clinicians will say that once you have thyroid antibodies, you will always have thyroid antibodies, so the actual number doesn’t matter, as the antibodies can randomly fluctuate. I respectfully disagree. Antibodies fluctuate in response to triggers (some as common as stress), and in my exhaustive experience, they can be an incredibly helpful marker for tracking disease progression. That said, they should not be the only marker. We also want to look at your overall health… and the big picture… are you feeling better or worse?
What Number is Considered Remission?
To me, remission to me is a journey, and not necessarily a destination. While researchers have labeled thyroid antibodies under 100 IU/mL as “remission status” and thyroid antibodies above 500 IU/mL as “aggressive”, I would like to remind you to look at the big picture.
Remission is not the same as a cure; rather, it is a respite from the disease, a reduction in the expression of the condition, and a reduction in symptoms.
The definition of remission will thus vary with each person. Where were you when you got started on your journey?
If you started with thyroid antibodies in the 5000 IU/mL range and had 10+ symptoms, improving your health to a point where your antibodies are 1000 IU/mL with five symptoms may be considered remission.
If, however, you started with antibodies in the 200 IU/mL range, and only had three symptoms to begin with, thyroid antibodies of 1000 IU/mL and five symptoms may be considered an exacerbation or worsening of the condition for you.
The goal of remission is for you to work on improving your health; I hope that every small change I recommend will result in an improvement. And yes, in some cases, a complete remission — where you no longer test positive for any thyroid antibodies, don’t have a single symptom, and there is no evidence of damage to your thyroid gland — is possible!
For a comprehensive collection of strategies to reduce thyroid antibodies, please check out this article.
Takeaway
As you can see… thyroid antibodies matter! This is why when testing the thyroid, it’s important to do a full thyroid panel, including TPO and TG antibodies. Someone may have normal TSH levels, but still have symptoms due to the presence of thyroid antibodies. This is how many thyroid disorders go undiagnosed for years, and people suffer needlessly because they’re told that their thyroid is normal.
I hope this information helped you!
I’d love to hear from you! Have you had your thyroid antibodies tested? Have you found a connection between the presence of antibodies and your symptoms?
As always, I wish you the best on your journey to better health.
P.S. I love interacting with my readers on social media, and I encourage you to join my Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest community pages to stay on top of thyroid health updates and meet others who are following similar health journeys. For recipes, a FREE Thyroid Diet start guide, notifications about upcoming events, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter from my first book for free, be sure to sign up for my email list!
References
[1] Müssig K, Künle A, Säuberlich AL, et al. Thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity is associated with symptomatic distress in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Brain Behav Immun. 2012;26(4):559-563. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2012.01.006
[2] Carta MG, Loviselli A, Hardoy MC, et al. The link between thyroid autoimmunity (antithyroid peroxidase autoantibodies) with anxiety and mood disorders in the community: a field of interest for public health in the future. BMC Psychiatry. 2004;4:25. Published 2004 Aug 18. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-4-25
[3] Wichman J, Winther KH, Bonnema SJ, Hegedüs L. Selenium Supplementation Significantly Reduces Thyroid Autoantibody Levels in Patients with Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Thyroid. 2016;26(12):1681-1692. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0256; Ventura M, Melo M, Carrilho F. Selenium and Thyroid Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment. Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:1297658. doi:10.1155/2017/1297658; Benton D, Cook R. The impact of selenium supplementation on mood. Biol Psychiatry. 1991;29(11):1092-1098. doi:10.1016/0006-3223(91)90251-g
[4] Siegmann EM, Müller HHO, Luecke C, Philipsen A, Kornhuber J, Grömer TW. Association of Depression and Anxiety Disorders With Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [published correction appears in JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Jun 19;:]. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018;75(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0190
[5] Carta MG, Loviselli A, Hardoy MC, et al. The link between thyroid autoimmunity (antithyroid peroxidase autoantibodies) with anxiety and mood disorders in the community: a field of interest for public health in the future. BMC Psychiatry. 2004;4:25. Published 2004 Aug 18. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-4-25
[6] Caykoylu A, Kabadayi Sahin E, Ugurlu M. Could the Thyroid Gland Dominate the Brain in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?. Neuroendocrinology. 2022;112(12):1143-1154. doi:10.1159/000524627
[7] Gerentes M, Pelissolo A, Rajagopal K, Tamouza R, Hamdani N. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Autoimmunity and Neuroinflammation. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019;21(8):78. Published 2019 Aug 1. doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1062-8
[8] Endres D, Pollak TA, Bechter K, et al. Immunological causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: is it time for the concept of an “autoimmune OCD” subtype?. Transl Psychiatry. 2022;12(1):5. Published 2022 Jan 10. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01700-4; Arnold PD, Richter MA. Is obsessive-compulsive disorder an autoimmune disease?. CMAJ. 2001;165(10):1353-1358.
[9] Nordio M, Basciani S. Treatment with Myo-Inositol and Selenium Ensures Euthyroidism in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis. Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:2549491. doi:10.1155/2017/2549491; 1. Sayyah mehdi, Andishmand M, Ganji R. Effect of selenium as an adjunctive therapy in patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pilot randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. December 12, 2018. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.archivespp.pl/Effect-of-selenium-as-an-adjunctive-therapy-nin-patients-with-treatment -resistant,99584,0,2.html.; Harvey BH, Brink CB, Seedat S, Stein DJ. Defining the neuromolecular action of myo-inositol: application to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2002;26(1):21-32. doi:10.1016/s0278-5846(01)00244-5
[10] Bucci I, Giuliani C, Di Dalmazi G, Formoso G, Napolitano G. Thyroid Autoimmunity in Female Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:768363. Published 2022 May 26. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.768363
[11] Wang N, Sun Y, Yang H, et al. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Induces Hippocampus-Dependent Cognitive Alterations by Impairing Astrocytes in Euthyroid Mice. Thyroid. 2021;31(3):482-493. doi:10.1089/thy.2020.0139; Eslami-Amirabadi M, Sajjadi SA. The relation between thyroid dysregulation and impaired cognition/behaviour: An integrative review. J Neuroendocrinol. 2021;33(3):e12948. doi:10.1111/jne.12948
[12] Mazaheri T, Sharifi F, Kamali K. Insulin resistance in hypothyroid patients under Levothyroxine therapy: a comparison between those with and without thyroid autoimmunity. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2014;13(1):103. Published 2014 Oct 30. doi:10.1186/s40200-014-0103-4
[13] Ebner S. Treating hypothyroidism decreases cholesterol levelsSusana . American Thyroid Association. April 2021. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for- patients/april-2021/vol-14-issue-4-p-6-7/.
[14] Cengiz H, Demirci T, Varim C, Tamer A. The effect of Thyroid Autoimmunity on Dyslipidemia in patients with Euthyroid Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1365-1370. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.5.3883
[15] Mazaheri T, Sharifi F, Kamali K. Insulin resistance in hypothyroid patients under Levothyroxine therapy: a comparison between those with and without thyroid autoimmunity. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2014;13(1):103. Published 2014 Oct 30. doi:10.1186/s40200-014-0103-4
[16] Rotondi M, de Martinis L, Coperchini F, et al. Serum negative autoimmune thyroiditis displays a milder clinical picture compared with classic Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2014;171(1):31-36. doi:10.1530/EJE-14-0147
[17] Liu T, Zhang X, Long L, et al. Clinical evaluation of an automated TSI bridge immunoassay in the diagnosis of Graves’ disease and its relationship to the degree of hyperthyroidism. BMC Endocr Disord. 2022;22(1):218. Published 2022 Aug 31. doi:10.1186/s12902-022-01114-3
[18] Fröhlich E, Wahl R. Thyroid Autoimmunity: Role of Anti-thyroid Antibodies in Thyroid and Extra-Thyroidal Diseases. Front Immunol. 2017;8:521. Published 2017 May 9. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00521
[19] Lee CS, Kim DM, Kim CS, Yoo HJ. Clinical significance of thyrotrophin binding inhibitor immunoglobulins in patients with Graves’ disease and various types of thyroiditis. Korean J Intern Med. 1987;2(1):112-119. doi:10.3904/kjim.1987.2.1.112
[20] Staii A, Mirocha S, Todorova-Koteva K, Glinberg S, Jaume JC. Hashimoto thyroiditis is more frequent than expected when diagnosed by cytology which uncovers a pre-clinical state. Thyroid Res. 2010;3(1):11. Published 2010 Dec 20. doi:10.1186/1756-6614-3-11
[21] Fröhlich E, Wahl R. Thyroid Autoimmunity: Role of Anti-thyroid Antibodies in Thyroid and Extra-Thyroidal Diseases. Front Immunol. 2017;8:521. Published 2017 May 9. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00521
Thanks for this information. I saw an integrative health dr years ago because I couldn’t lose weight, I was always cold, my skin was dry and I had almost daily idiopathic hives for 2 miserable years. They told me it was likely my thyroid and ordered a number of tests. The results showed the presence of thyroid antibodies but no other abnormalities. The dr just said I would likely end up with thyroid issues down the track but said there was not much I could do because my thyroid levels were all fine at the time. I remember feeling pretty disheartened. It was like being told a truck is going to hit you, but you can’t move out the way. I am glad there are people like you, sharing knowledge to empower people in similar situations to make changes that can improve their lives. So they can thrive, not just survive. Thanks x
Aimee – You’re welcome! I do appreciate you sharing your journey and I’m so happy to hear you are finding my research helpful.
Hi Izabella! I am Eutheoid with ‘normal’ (not ideal) Free T3 & T4 levels (currently). My TSH is 4.5 so too high. Apart from being on 100mcg of Thyroxine daily & trying my best to avoid gluten- what else can I do medicinally? My selenium & B12 levels are normal.
Love reading your articles.
Thank you for your lives experience 🙏🏼
Heidi
Heidi – thank you for following! I believe that most nutrients should come from the diet. This is why I always list food sources in the book and on the blog, for most of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals. and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s. However, some may require or prefer supplements. I recommend getting tested for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my books. Have you checked them out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and any of my books will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation. Here are some articles you might find interesting: WHICH SUPPLEMENTS ACTUALLY HELP HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-supplements-actually-help-hashimotos/
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO USING ENZYMES WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/using-enzymes-to-overcome-hashimotos