How Food Allergies Can Negatively Affect Your Thyroid
The thyroid gland controls the metabolism and regulates all activities of the cells through its hormones T3 and T4. It also plays a vital role in development and growth, and any thyroid-related issues result in a wide range of health problems. Therefore, it is of great importance to take care of your thyroid glands.
In the current article, we will try to discover the correlation of thyroid issues with the Gastrointestinal tract and the role of probiotics in thyroid-related problems. We will also put light on common food allergies and sensitivities that are closely linked with thyroid issues.
What is a Food Allergy
Eating is necessary for life. Almost everyone enjoys eating a variety of food, but this is not the case for all. Some people are prone to develop allergies as their bodies show a severe response to a food ingredient. Hence, people with food allergies can’t enjoy every type of food, and they have to be very careful in their food choice because some food ingredients can lead to life-threatening experiences.
Symptoms of food allergies can be mild or severe. Some common signs of food allergies include vomiting; itchy sensation inside ears, throat, and mouse; swelling on the face; hives or urticaria; and swelling around eyes, lips, and roof of the mouth. Symptoms of the food allergy can be very severe and life-threatening as anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis refers to difficulty in breathing and can result in death. Allergic reactions occur when white blood cells take some proteins in the foods as foreign particles and trigger a response against them.
White blood cells release several chemicals that cause the symptoms of allergy. Although any type of food can cause food allergies, some foods can trigger allergic reactions in most people. U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has enlisted eight foods as allergens: Milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, fish, wheat, soybean, shellfish.
Some food ingredients mediate antibody IgE response that is immediate and known as IgE mediated hypersensitivity. Another type is non-IgE cell-mediated hypersensitivity. Later refers to the immune response by particular immune cells that manifests after 6-24 hours of food ingestion.
Food Allergies Versus Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivity or food intolerance is entirely a different thing that is often confused with food allergies although, both are two separate things.
Our digestive system always shows a physiological response against a particular food ingredient in case of food intolerance. One such example is lactose intolerance, estimated to be found in 75% population of the world.
Lactose is present in natural dairy products. Symptoms of common food intolerances are abdominal discomfort, generalized malaise, diarrhea, and bloating.
Food allergy is a severe condition when the immune system of the body recognizes the food protein as a foreign particle. It produces antibodies or other inflammation-inducing chemicals.
According to a study, above 50 million Americans are allergic to one or more types of foods. As per the CDC, about 4% of children suffer from food allergies. Although food allergies are common among children, adults and young can also develop in any stage of life.
Gut-Thyroid Axis
The thyroid is one of the most important endocrine glands whose secretions affect every cell in the body. The thyroid influences the functioning of a wide range of organs.
One of such organs is Gut/Digestive system. Studies suggest that many types of thyroid issues, particularly autoimmune issues are closely associated with gut-related disorders.
Most common autoimmune disorders related to thyroid glands, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves disease coexist with Non-celiac wheat sensitivity and Celiac Disease that are gut-related autoimmune problems.
An increase in intestinal permeability and damaged barrier of the intestine in Celiac disease eases the passage of food antigens. These antigens stimulate the immune system and also affect other organs, such as the Thyroid gland.
On the other hand, many enzymes from the gut can activate or deactivate the activity of thyroid hormones. Some enzymes can even alter the total T3 (hormone of the thyroid gland) body levels.
Similarly, a study on rats also showed the effect of thyroid hormones on gut microbiota. Another evidence of thyroid-gut interplay is the effect of gut microbiota on dopamine levels that affect the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Hence both gut and thyroid interplay and form a complex thyroid-gut axis.
The term “Thyrogastric syndrome” is also used to define the possible link between the thyroid and gastrointestinal tract. In some studies, researchers have identified the anti-thyroid antibodies in people with autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis (AMAG: a gut-related disorder).
Moreover, gastric mucosal cells and thyroid follicular cells share the common embryonic origin as both develop from primitive gut cells.
Some Bacteria in the Gut also Cause Food Allergies
Several types of bacterial species are present in the gut that are known as gut microbiota. They play a role in the digestion of some food ingredients and act as manufacturing factories for some vital vitamins.
But, not all bacteria in the gut are beneficial. One of the examples is Helicobacter pylori that causes gastritis. The presence of H.pylori can trigger allergic reactions. The reason behind this is the inflammatory process in the intestine wall.
Intestinal mucosa acts as a barrier for food antigens (allergens: proteins that may trigger allergic responses). The inflammatory process increases the permeability of the intestinal wall and subsequently easy passage of food antigens that stimulate the immune response.
Because it alters the integrity of gastrointestinal mucosa, therefore, H.pylori infection worsens the IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.
On the other hand, some studies suggest that persons with food allergies have hyperaemic (the increased number of blood vessels in a particular area) and edematous (the swollen part filled with fluid) gastric mucosa. Both conditions promote the adhesion of H.pylori with the intestine wall.
Food Allergies and Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders
As stated earlier in the article, most autoimmune thyroid disorders coexist with food allergies. There is strong evidence that suggests the role of food allergies toward the onset of autoimmune thyroid disorders.
Food and respiratory allergies have severe implications in triggering AITDs. In a study, researchers found elevated levels of an inflammatory marker Th-derived cytokine in autoimmune thyroid problems.
Higher levels of IgE antibodies in allergic conditions play a role in the production of cytokines that ultimately induce autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ ophthalmology.
Other way round, allergens-specific IgE also modifies thyroid hormones and increases the level of anti-thyroid antibodies that contributes to AITDs.
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