Thyroiditis                    

Thyroiditis is an (organ-specific) Autoimmune Disease involving Inflammation of the Thyroid Gland.

 

Minerals

       Selenium (at least 200 mcg per day) may help to prevent and alleviate Thyroiditis.  ^[1]

 

Vitamins

       Thyroiditis may occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency. 

 

Proteins

       Gluten may cause Thyroiditis.  ^[2]

 

Soy Products

       Feeding Soy Milk to infants may increase their risk of Thyroiditis.  ^[3]

 

Digestive System

       Celiac Disease may cause Thyroiditis.  ^[4]

 

Immune System

       Excessive activity of TH1 Helper T-Cells (known as TH1 Helper T-Cells Dominance) may be an underlying cause of (Hashimoto’s) Thyroiditis. 

 

       Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (also known as Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis; Hashimoto's Struma; Autoimmune Thyroiditis) is a chronic Inflammation of the Thyroid with lymphocytic infiltration of the Thyroid Gland caused by Autoimmune factors.  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is believed to be the most common cause of primary Hypothyroidism in Western nations.  It is more prevalent (8:1) in women than in men and its prevalence increases with age.  Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis complain of painless enlargement of the thyroid gland or fullness in the throat.  Examination reveals a nontender goiter, smooth or nodular, firm, and more rubbery than the normal Thyroid.  Many patients have Hypothyroidism when first examined.  Other forms of Autoimmune Disease are common in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis patients, including Pernicious Anemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren's syndrome, Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency), Hypoparathyroidism, and Diabetes Mellitus Type 1.  Schmidt's syndrome is Addison's disease and hypothyroidism secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis.  There may be an increased incidence of Thyroid neoplasia, particularly papillary carcinoma and thyroid lymphoma.