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Hypothyroidism doesn\u2019t just affect your thyroid.<\/p>\nHypothyroidism doesn\u2019t just affect your thyroid.<\/p>\n
New research suggests it could also disrupt your gut.<\/p>\n
At ENDO, researchers reported that people with underactive thyroids face a significantly higher risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).<\/p>\n
The risk was even greater for those with Hashimoto\u2019s disease, the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n
The study analyzed samples from 49 people with hypothyroidism and more than 300 controls.<\/p>\n
Researchers found that those with thyroid disease were nearly three times more likely to test positive for SIBO.<\/p>\n
The bacterial makeup in the gut also varied depending on thyroid status, with certain species appearing more often in those with both hypothyroidism and SIBO.<\/p>\n
When the thyroid slows down, so does digestion.<\/p>\n
Reduced gut motility can make it easier for bacteria to build up where they shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
That leads to bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation.<\/p>\n
For people with Hashimoto\u2019s, the connection may also involve the immune system.<\/p>\n
Some bacterial proteins resemble human proteins, tricking the body into attacking itself\u2014a process called molecular mimicry.<\/p>\n
The exact cause-and-effect relationship isn\u2019t proven yet.<\/p>\n
But the findings suggest that if you have thyroid disease and also struggle with unexplained digestive issues, SIBO could be part of the picture.<\/p>\n
A simple breath test can diagnose it, and treatment can often bring quick relief.<\/p>\n
Doctors have long recognized that the thyroid and gut are closely connected.<\/p>\n
This study adds another piece to the puzzle\u2014and another reason not to ignore lingering digestive symptoms if you also have thyroid disease.<\/p>\n
This comes as no surprise to me.<\/p>\n
For the last 25 years, I’ve helped thousands of clients to reverse their hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n
And my main focus is gut health.<\/p>\n
So yes, your Hypothyroidism can damage your guts… leading to SIBO overgrowth… but if your gut bacteria is not optimal, it destroys your thyroid… leading to Hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n