Thyroid disorders, tests, how to treat
Thyroid Disorders - Autoimmune Thyroiditis - Anti-thyroid Antibodies
Causes of thyroid disorders
Autoimmune thyroiditis
The anti-thyroid antibodies
involved with autoimmune thyroiditis are:
Anti-thyroid
peroxidase (TPO Ab) - attack the thyroperoxidase enzyme (TPO),
responsible for thyroid hormone production.
Anti-thyroglobulin
(Tg Ab) - block a protein made by the thyroid, necessary for
making thyroid hormones.
TSH Receptor
Antibody (TRAb) - stimulate thyroid hormone production by binding
to Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) receptors.
And possibly:
Na+/I- Symporter
(NIS) Antibody - the NIS transports iodide into the thyroid follicular
cell and this antibody is present in 20% of Grave's disease and 26% of Hashimoto's
thyroiditis.
Saravanan P, Dayan CM (June 2001). "Thyroid autoantibodies".Endocrinol.
Metab. Clin. North Am: 315-37, viii..
Thyroid damage ==> immune system anti-thyroid antibodies ==>
increased or decreased TH production
Thyroid problems can develop when damage to thyroid
gland components / thyroid inflammation causes the immune system to produce
anti-thyroid
antibodies - which can result in a malfunctioning
thyroid which either (1) DECREASES or (2) INCREASES thyroid hormone
production:
(1) Anti-thyroid
antibodies TPOAb or TgAb => Reduced thyroid
hormone production ▼▼▼
Antibody against TPO (TPOAb) -
These antibodies damage the TPO enzyme responsible
for adding iodine to thyroglobulin protein in
TH production; usually a consequence of
iodine and/or
selenium deficiencies; high
TPO Ab found in ~90% of patients with
Hashimoto's thyroiditis .
Antibodies against thyroglobulin
(TgAb) - These antibodies block thyroglobulin (Tg),a protein synthesized by the thyroid, required for
making thyroid hormones (T4 and T3).High TgAb
levels seen in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis .
Also, women's high level TgAb
linked to Infertility / miscarriage -
for currently unclear reasons, TgAb can interfere
with implantation of the embryo in the uterus.
(2) TSH Receptor Antibodies (TRAb)
=> Increased
thyroid hormone production ▲▲▲
TSH Receptor Antibodies
(TRAb) - found in ~95% of those with Grave's
hyperthyroidism . These
antibodies stimulate thyroid hormone production by
binding to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors.
CHART OF ANTI-THYROID
ANTIBODIES and Associated DISEASEs
ANTI-THYROID ANTIBODIES
ACRONYM
PRESENT IN
Anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody
TPOAb
Autoimmune Thyroiditis (E.g. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
(found in ~90% of cases), Postpartum thyroiditis)
Graves Disease (found in ~75% of cases)
Anti-thyroglobulin antibody
TgAb
Thyroid cancer;
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
(E.g. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Postpartum thyroiditis)
Anti-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) receptor
antibody
TRAb
Graves Disease (found in ~95% of cases)
Damaged thyroid peroxidase enzyme (TPO)
TPO antibodies (TPOAbs) attack TPO, which is
responsible for adding iodine
to thyroglobulin protein in thyroid hormone production
Supposed hypothyroidism could
actually be estrogen
dominance
Estrogen
Dominance
occurs when there is an imbalance of
estrogen over
PROGESTERONE in
women (or
TESTOSTERONE
in men ).
Numerous, previously non-existent
sources of estrogen in the Western world are now universally entering our bodies
from our environment and diet. This estrogen overload is overwhelming the delicate
balance with other hormones in the body, and
Progesterone in particular. For
information on this "epidemic"problem, see:
Estrogen Dominance
Thyroid hormone and estrogen have opposing actions
Thyroid Hormone causes fat calories to be turned
into usable energy
Estrogen
causes food calories to be stored as fat
Estrogen dominance inhibits thyroid action
and lowers the rate of metabolism of the Body
Natural Progesterone
inhibits estrogen
action
Estrogen dominance
mimics hypothyroidism by interfering
with thyroid hormones
The symptoms of
hypothyroidism may occur because of estrogen
dominance. Also, many other "presumed" thyroid dysfunctions
(E.g. falling hair, water retention, loss of memory, dry skin) and autoimmune disorders
are actually caused by estrogen dominance.
Estrogen
increases Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) in blood hindering TH activity.
Thyroid hormones are carried by TBG, a specific protein produced
by the liver. An increased number of binding proteins hold onto more of the thyroid
hormone. Since protein-bound ("tied-up") hormones can't bind to their
receptor, this reduces the free thyroid hormones in the blood that will be
available to cells for maintaining metabolism, even though blood TH levels may test
normal or high. Circulating thyroid hormone is highly bound (>99%) to
TBG.
▲ Estrogens
will increase circulating levels of TBG, which decreases amount of
free T4 available for cells to use, even though
total T4 level increases. Drugs that can reduce free T4 include:
Birth control pills
Clofibrate
Methadone
Estrogens
▼
Androgens will
decrease circulating levels of TBG, which increases free T4 and reduces total T4.
Drugs that can increase free T4 include:
Anabolic steroids
Androgens
Antithyroid drugs (E.g.
propylthiouracil and methimazole)
Interferon alpha
Interleukin-2
Lithium
Phenytoin
Propranolol
Menopause and perimenopause are transitional situations which require more than
the usual amount of thyroid hormone. Due
to higher estrogen compared to
Progesterone levels.
Estrogen inhibits thyroid secretion /
Progesterone stimulates
it. The body makes
Progesterone from cholesterol if there
is adequate thyroid hormone and other nutrients including
vitamin A and certain enzymes.
Estrogen dominance decreases sensitivity to thyroid hormone.
A lab test will show thyroid hormone levels to be NORMAL or LOW NORMAL. It
is the sensitivit y to thyroid hormone that is decreased.
High
estrogen levels cause
fat build up for a pregnancy.
Estrogen does this by lowering your sensitivity to thyroid
hormone.
Solution for clinical hypothyroid due to
estrogen dominance
Deal with the estrogen
dominance and after several months the thyroid function
will return to normal. Thyroid supplements can be
cut back, and eventually possibly discontinued.
The plan will include:
(1) Cutting down on
estrogen intake
(2) Supplementing adequate levels
of Natural Progesterone;
Estrogen Dominance /Solutions
The crucial nutrient for Thyroid Hormone synthesis in the body is
Iodine.
Estrogen
/Iodine /Cancer connection
Iodine
metabolizes carcinogenic
ESTRONE and
estrogen metabolite 16-α-hydroxyestroneto "anti-carcinogenic"
ESTRIOL. Dr. Jonathan Wrights reports that
iodine elevates the amount of anti-carcinogenic
ESTRIOL produced and lowers the amount of
ESTRONE and
ESTRADIOL, so that the 3 forms of estrogen
are more balanced in favor of cancer prevention.
Wright J. One mineral can help a myriad of conditions
from atherosclerosis to "COPD" to zits. [cited April 3, 2007]; Available from: http://www.tahoma-clinic.com/iodide.shtml
Iodine
down-regulates
estrogen receptors
in breast cancer. Molecular work by Eskin's group has
shown that iodine down-regulates the estroge n
receptors in breast cancer cells and changes the expression of genes involved in
differentiation, cell cycle, hormone metabolism, and cancer growth.
Stoddard FR, HShah K, Johannes G, Eskin BA, Brooks A.
Iodine alters gene expression profile in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Thyroid
2006;16(9):894