Hashimoto S Thyroiditis Diet Causes of Primary Hypothyroidism in Women.
Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone. Primary hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones necessary to meet the body's metabolic needs.
The main cause of primary hypothyroidism is an autoimmune thyroid condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis which affects women 3 to 5 times more often than men. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors could trigger Hashimoto's disease causing the immune system to malfunction. The thyroid antibodies attack and destroy the thyroid gland leading to inflammation and hypothyroidism.
Pregnancy could cause hypothyroidism due to the shifts in hormonal and immune functions during and after pregnancy. Pregnant women become Th2 dominant in the third trimester. Later on the immune system shifts to Th1 dominance and can trigger Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism.
Both postpartum thyroiditis and silent thyroiditis are a form of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and could cause hypothyroidism. Postpartum thyroiditis occurs during the first year after delivery. This autoimmune condition affects from 5 to 10% of women who give birth and is characterized by high levels of thyroid antibodies and painless goiter. Postpartum thyroiditis causes temporary mild hypothyroidism that could last up to 4 years and in most cases subside later on.
Silent thyroiditis is also a temporary condition where thyroid gland becomes over reactive initially. About half of affected women progress to transient hypothyroidism which normally subsides within a couple of months. Hypothyroidism becomes permanent only in about 5% of women.
Fluctuations of estrogen during the perimenopause and menopause could trigger Hashimoto's disease and . Excess estrogen inhibits thyroid action, lowers the rate of metabolism and contributes to hypothyroidism. In the opposite case, progesterone supports thyroid function.
An adequate amount of iodine is necessary for the thyroid gland to function and produce thyroid hormones. Both deficiency and excess of iodine are common causes of hypothyroidism and enlargement of the thyroid gland.When not enough iodine comes from the diet then the person may become hypothyroid or subclinical hypothyroid.
Excessive iodine can trigger autoimmune thyroid disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis in genetically susceptible individuals and cause permanent damage to the thyroid gland. Excess of iodine in the diet can stimulate the immune system to create antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. As a result, the thyroid starts to produce less hormones and with time hypothyroidism may occur.
High iodine intake through the diet has been found to increase the incidence of clinical hypothyroidism. Iodine is concentrated in the thyroglobulin within the thyroid gland. After the ingestion of large amounts of iodine with the diet the production of pro-inflammatory free radicals significantly increases and the synthesis of hormones within the thyroid gland becomes impaired causing transient hypothyroidism.
Contamination of food and water supplies with chemical agent perchlorate could contribute to thyroid problems in susceptible individuals. Perchlorate blocks iodine uptake in the thyroid gland and may increase the risk for subclinical hypothyroidism especially in the women with low iodine levels.
Radioiodine treatment and thyroidectomy used for treatment of hyperthyroidism are less common causes of underactive thyroid in women. Whole body irradiation and external radiotherapy of the head and neck could cause damage to the thyroid gland and result in hypothyroidism.
Use of various drugs could cause hypothyroidism. Common medication for bipolar disorder lithium inhibits the release of the thyroid hormones contributing to the development of hypothyroidism and goiter. Lithium and interferons could also initiate chronic autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism. The iodine containing drug amiodarone and contract agents have been also shown to cause hypothyroidism.
hashimoto s thyroiditis diet.