Treating High Thyroid Antibodies
Have you ever been told there is very little you can do for high thyroid antibodies or that it is not worth testing your antibodies because there is nothing you can do anyway. Well I am here today saying there are steps you can take to improve this condition.
I have a person interest in this as my thyroid antibodies Thyroid Peroxidase was as high as 812. With good eating plans this thyroid peroxidase lowered to normal range 30. You can improve your thyroid antibodies.
Cause of autoimmune thyroid disease
- 70-80 percent of these conditions are caused from genetic factors
- 20-30 percent of these conditions are from environmental factors- these being toxicity and or low grade or past infections. This can be exacerbated in genetic tendencies relative to how toxicity is handled in our bodies.
- The two most common diseases effecting the antibodies of the thyroid are Graves’ disease (hyperthyroid disease) and Hashimotos disease (hypothyroid)
- To get a clear full picture of thyroid antibodies it is best to test TPO ( Thyroid Peroxidase) , TG ( Thyroid globulin) , TRab ( Thyroid Anti TSH receptor antibodies) for it gives you a full picture and this helps your practitioner in diagnosis.
The reference range for the antibodies are Thyroglobulin (TgAb) less than 20iu/mL, Thyroid Peroxidase ( TPOAb) less than 35iu/mL, Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin antibodies ( TSI) less than 140% of Basal Activity, Thyroid Stimulating hormone Receptor Binding Inhibitor immunoglobulin ( TB11)/ TRAb : 1.75 iu/L or less
1.Hashimotos Thyroiditis
This is the most common cause of an autoimmune thyroiditis. This is usually seen as hypothyroidism but in some cases, can swing to hyperthyroidism. Usually you will see issues with TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) readings but in some cases the real problem is not revealed til the antibodies are checked.
Antibodies to check for this are : TPOAb 90 to 100% elevated, TGAb
2.Graves’ Disease
This is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism or over active thyroid. Common symptoms are sweating, rapid heat beat, anxiety, tremors, fatigue, difficult sleeping, sudden weight loss and protruding eyes.
Antibodies to check are: TPOAb 50-80% elevated, TRAb including TSI and TB11
3.Goiter, Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Cancer
Antibodies of TGAb, TSI and TPOAb may both show up in blood tests.
4.TYPE 1 Diabetes
Antibodies of TGAb and TPOAb can show up in type one diabetes in 40 percent of cases.
5.Pregnancy
14 percent of times TGAb and TPOAb show up raised when you are pregnant,
Alternative Treatments and Information worth knowing about high thyroid antibodies:
- Dietary advice. There is a strong link with autoimmune antibodies and coeliac and so it has been argued that these patients should be screened for coeliac and if they have it treat this too and if not be aware of keeping gluten free anyway due to the build-up of zonulin.
- Probiotics may be introduced to help zonulin build up in gluten sensitivity
- AI Paleo diet- Autoimmune Paleo diet
- Enzymes
- Assessing iodine statis for the individual case.
- Lipoic acid – especially has been shown to help reduce the antibodies and help the symptoms of the orbitopathy (eye). Lipoic is a great antioxidant and a great anti-inflammatory. Not to mention great for blood sugar levels.
- Selenium
- Check for infections like- Helicobacter, Glandular fever, Hepatitis C, Herpes, - it has now been shown many a time that underlying virus’ can be the trigger of long term autoimmune problems.
- Estrogen: progesterone ratios can be an issue. It is commonly seen that estrogen dominance and conditions like PCOS have been associated with thyroid antibodies. Therefor things like: Vitex, Maca, Calcium D Glucarate, I3C, Lipoic acid, Inositol could all help.
- Biotin or B7 can interfer with the results of the autoimmune thyroid so please take this into account when doing tests.
- Checking for and reducing heavy metals exposure and in the body. Here at the clinic we can organize heavy metal testing. There are medicines you can use to chelate the heavy metal out of the system.
- Reducing PUFA oils in your diet.