Did you know that upwards of 93 percent of all Hashimoto’s sufferers are deficient in Vitamin D? Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Vitamin D deficiency go hand-in-hand.
Don’t suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Well, you’re not fairing any better seeing as 94 percent to 98 percent of hypothyroidism sufferers are deficient too.
In other words, if you’re hypothyroid, then you’re pretty much guaranteed to be deficient in Vitamin D.
But, before you run to the store to stock up on Vitamin D, you need to read this post to the end first.
There’s more to this than just Vitamin D, and in some cases supplementing Vitamin D may worsen your condition.
Certain vitamin deficiencies have long been associated with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism.
Yet, increasing evidence is showing that Vitamin D, and other fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, are playing a central role in both Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s and Vitamin D Deficiency
When it comes to Hashimoto’s and Vitamin D deficiency, it has really come down to the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Does Vitamin D deficiency cause/contribute to Hashimoto’s?
Or, does Hashimoto’s cause/contribute to Vitamin D deficiency?
A more recent study has now helped to answer that very important question.
Vitamin D supplementation reduces thyroid peroxidase antibody levels in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27186560
“CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation in AITD may have a beneficial effect on autoimmunity as evidence by significant reductions in TPO-Ab titers.”
This study shows that not only does supplemental Vitamin D (and calcium) help improve Hashimoto’s thyroiditis…
…it can improve Hashimoto’s drastically.
After 3 months of an equivalent daily supplementation of 8,500 IU Vitamin D3 and 1,250 mg of calcium carbonate daily, the median reduction of TPO-antibodies was 46.7 percent.
That’s huge!
So, how can you re-create this yourself?
Well, the calcium carbonate supplement is easy.
I show you exactly how to make the safest and most effective calcium carbonate supplement from eggshells here: Eggshell Calcium Supplement
Supplementing Vitamin D becomes a little more complicated because of its potential to deplete other important fat-soluble hormones, like Vitamin A.
Never Supplement “Vitamin D” without “Vitamin A”
Restoring Vitamin D levels is very important in both Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism.
However, when it comes to supplements, many people take a “more is better” approach.
Please keep in mind that Vitamin D levels should ideally be between 40 to 60 ng/ml (100 to 150 nmol/l).
(NOTE: Vitamin D status should be tested using the 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D / 25(OH)D lab test.)
Too little and too much Vitamin D is associated with various health complications.
Yet, the important thing to note is this…
Vitamin D should always be supplemented together with Vitamin A. Too much of one can create a deficiency in the other.
This is one reason why we now use them together in the ideal protective ratios in our Vitamin ADK Thyroid Formula.
Much like Vitamin D, Vitamin A is also known to be deficient in both Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism sufferers.
So, supplementing large amounts of Vitamin D can help, but only as long as we don’t worsen (or create) a Vitamin A deficiency in the process.
Vitamin A Is Just As Important for Healthy Immune Function
For starters, Vitamin A is necessary for your body to use thyroid hormone (T3).
Studies have shown it to both significantly lower TSH while significantly raising active T3 thyroid hormone.
(NOTE: I show you how using the “right” form of Vitamin A can help boost your thyroid by 61% in this post on Vitamin A and Hypothyroidism.)
But there are other important functions of Vitamin A that are quite helpful for Hashimoto’s sufferers.
1. Vitamin A Can Help Lower Your TPO-Antibodies
Estrogen is well known to drive the production of TPO-antibodies in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
(NOTE: I cover this in detail along with a 3-Step Plan to help fix this in this post on Hypothyroidism and Estrogen.)
Yet, Vitamin A also helps to lower estrogen, and therefore, can help improve antibody levels.
2. Vitamin A Can Calm Your Overactive Immune System (and Inflammation)
Vitamin A is well known for its important role in regulating immunity, especially in the gut.
Yet, it can also help regulate your T Cells that drive much of the inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, there can be an overabundance of T Helper Cells that produce large amounts of inflammatory cytokines.
Vitamin A helps promote the production of T Regulatory Cells, which work to shut down the immune reaction.
In other words, Vitamin A helps to ensure that there’s enough regulatory T Cells available to come clean up the inflammation and mess caused by your over-active immune system.
This is why Vitamin A is so important in preventing and/or reducing all sorts of allergies, including food allergies.
So, there you have it. If you suffer from Hashimoto’s (or hypothyroidism in general) then Vitamin D can be a life-saver.
However, supplementing Vitamin D alone isn’t generally the best solution.
You can’t neglect the need to balance it properly with Vitamin A.
Using Vitamin A and Vitamin D together in the right balance is not only safer, but can be even more effective in regulating your TPO-antibodies, your immune system, and your inflammation.
1. Chaudhary, Sandeep, et al. “Vitamin D supplementation reduces thyroid peroxidase antibody levels in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial” Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, May-Jun 2016, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27186560/
2. Botelho, Ilka Mara Borges, et al. “Vitamin D in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Its Relationship with Thyroid Function and Inflammatory Status.” Endocrine Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 29 Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30058600
3. Cannell, John. “Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Does D Deficiency Play a Role?” Vitamin D Council, 10 May 2018, www.vitamindcouncil.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis-does-d-deficiency-play-a-role/
KEY IDEA
Vitamin D supplementation, combined with calcium, can significantly help people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A recent study showed that taking 8,500 IU of Vitamin D3 and 1,250 mg of calcium carbonate daily reduced thyroid antibodies by 46.7% after three months. However, it is important to remember that Vitamin D shouldn’t be taken alone, as it needs to be balanced with Vitamin A. Both vitamins are typically deficient in people with thyroid problems, and they work together to help regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve thyroid hormone function.
