Probiotic substances do not impair oral levothyroxine intestinal absorption

Eight studies involving 367 participants were deemed suitable for analysis. The findings indicate a significant decrease in TRAb levels among individuals with Graves’ disease who received probiotics/prebiotics supplementation, suggesting a potential therapeutic advantage in terms of TRAb. However, it should be noted that this clinical significance may not be significant.

• Rhamnosus GG is also beneficial for intestinal dysbiosis.
• According to this mechanism, LT4 requirement could be regulated acting on intestinal bacteria and modifying THs enterohepatic recycle.
• I love using this in salad dressings and smoothies, or enjoying it topped with shaved coconut, pumpkin seeds, nuts, berries, or a splash of maple syrup.
• For example, both sauerkraut and kimchi have strains of L.

I didn’t realize at the time that the problem with most commercial probiotics and yogurts, is that they don’t have enough beneficial bacteria to make a difference. A gut may also be more permeable due to an imbalance synthroid bulk of probiotic (good) versus opportunistic (bad) gut bacteria, also known as dysbiosis. Coli and Proteus bacterial species are often referred to as “opportunistic pathogens” because they only become pathogenic when the opportunity is just right. If they are outnumbered by probiotic bacteria, they behave like good citizens of the gut and may add value.

LT4 Dose Adjustments

Reversible sulfotransferases and glucuronyltransferases mediate the inactivation of TH in the liver, increasing iodothyronines water-solubility, promoting biliary and urinary clearance (17). In the bowel, gut bacteria expressing β-glucuronidases and sulfatase enzymes are able to hydrolyze glucuronidated and sulfated iodothyronines metabolites (17, 18). In this way, lipophilic deconjugated iodothyronines can be reabsorbed, constituting the enterohepatic recycle of THs (17, 18). According to this mechanism, LT4 requirement could be regulated acting on intestinal bacteria and modifying THs enterohepatic recycle. In this context, gut can be considered a possible reservoir of THs (17), although a clear in vivo demonstration is still lacking.

New Treatments for Hashimoto’s 2025

Additionally, the composition of the gut microbiota has an influence on the availability of essential micronutrients for the thyroid gland. Iodine, iron, and copper are crucial for thyroid hormone synthesis, selenium and zinc are needed for converting T4 to T3, and vitamin D assists in regulating the immune response. Those micronutrients are often found to be deficient in AITDs, resulting in malfunctioning of the thyroid. Bariatric surgery can lead to an inadequate absorption of these nutrients and further implicates changes in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and T3 levels.

After evaluating the titles and abstracts of the studies, 676 papers were excluded and 16 articles remaining were retrieved for full-text screening and their eligibility was assessed for meta-analysis. Of these, three were duplicate research, two studies were oral presentations, where data on thyroid hormones were not provided, one was not designed for RCT, and two did not measure thyroid function. Finally, eight RCT studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis and they were all peer-reviewed publications (Fig 1). With their role in improving gut health and suppressing autoimmunity, probiotics can be an important supporting tool for your thyroid healing journey.

• This will prevent the adhesion and subsequent invasion of the pathogen.
• You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.
• I mentioned if I am working with a patient who has ulcerative colitis, who also has Graves’ or Hashimoto’s, then I will recommend a probiotic that has a few hundred billion CFU.
• They could come in capsules, powders, tablets, included in yogurts or drinks.

Probiotics can support a healthy cardiovascular system, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. Diet, physical activity, stress management, and/or medication also play important roles in keeping your heart and blood vessels in good shape. Soya interferes with levothyroxine absorption, therefore if you are taking levothyroxine you should try to avoid soya. If you wish to take soya, you should leave as long as possible (at least four hours) between eating the soya and taking the levothyroxine. The LT4 activation and inactivation occur through the action of deiodinases (17).

• Probiotics and prebiotics have demonstrated beneficial effects on thyroid diseases.
• As detailed in this Review, the gut microbiota is pivotal in maintaining immune homeostasis, processing thyroid-relevant micronutrients (iodine and selenium) and regulating thyroid hormones.
• 7 In the outpatient study cited in the introduction, almost 70% of the interacting drugs were PPIs.
• Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health effect on the host (19).
• The second factor we CAN change is exposure to one or more environmental triggers.

Possibly, a longer treatment might be able to highlight these changes. The relationship between probiotics and levothyroxine (LT4) requirement has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess whether a mixture of highly charged Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria (VSL#3®) is able to influence LT4 metabolism acting on the gut microbiota.

Many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions are familiar with the health benefits of probiotics. And I’m sure many people reading this are currently taking probiotics. But just as is the case with many other supplements, many people don’t have a good understanding when it comes to different probiotic supplements. Many just choose a brand with multiple strains, but otherwise don’t know if it is the right probiotic for them. So in this post I will discuss some of the different “features” of probiotic supplements, including some of the strains, the potency, and other factors.

If you have been prescribed this thyroid medication for an underactive thyroid gland ( hypothyroidism ), please continue reading to learn more foods to avoid when taking levothyroxine. They can also enhance the immune system, improve the absorption of certain nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, help with constipation, and might help with other health issues. Some argue that taking prebiotics can serve as a substrate for candida and certain pathogens, although this is controversial. Once again, the quality of the probiotic supplement is important. You can purchase a probiotic supplement that has 100 billion CFU, but if the strains aren’t viable then you might only be taking something equivalent to 5 billion CFU.

So for example, one strain in a given species might be able to survive passage through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas another strain won’t be able to survive. Similarly, some strains will be able to kill pathogenic bacteria, while other strains won’t do this. Some probiotic products may contain live bacteria (such as bifidobacteria). Antibiotics may prevent these products from working well.