The Influence of Nutritional Intervention in the Treatment of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis-A Systematic Review

Osowiecka et al., 2023 | Nutrients | Systematic Review

Citation

Osowiecka Karolina, Myszkowska-Ryciak Joanna. The Influence of Nutritional Intervention in the Treatment of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis-A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2023-Feb-20;15(4). doi:10.3390/nu15041041

Abstract

Diet can be a complementary treatment for Hashimoto's disease by affecting thyroid function and anti-inflammatory properties. It is still unclear which dietary strategy would be the most beneficial. The aim of this systematic review is to examine all the data currently available in the literature on the effects of nutritional intervention on biochemical parameters (anti-thyroid antibody and thyroid hormones levels) and characteristic symptoms in the course of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This systematic review was prepared based on PRISMA guidelines. Articles in PubMed and Scopus databases published up to November 2022 were searched. As a result of the selection, out of 1350 publications, 9 were included for further analysis. The nutritional interventions included the following: elimination of gluten (3 articles) or lactose (1 article), energy restriction with or without excluding selected foods (n = 2), consumption of Nigella sativa (n = 2), or dietary iodine restriction (n = 1). The intervention duration ranged from 21 days to 12 months and included individuals with various thyroid function. Of the nine studies, three studies were female only. An improvement was observed during an energy deficit and after the elimination of selected ingredients (e.g., gluten, lactose, or goitrogens), as well as after the intervention of Nigella sativa. These interventions improved antibody levels against peroxidase (anti-TPO), (thyrotropin) TSH, and free thyroxine (fT4). No improvement was seen on the iodine-restricted diet. Varied outcomes of analyzed dietary interventions may be due to the heterogeneous thyroid condition, high variability between patients, and differences in habitual intake of critical nutrients (e.g., iodine, selenium, and iron) in different populations. Therefore, there is a great need for further experimental studies to determine whether any nutritional interventions are beneficial in Hashimoto's disease.

Key Findings

Therefore, there is a great need for further experimental studies to determine whether any nutritional interventions are beneficial in Hashimoto's disease.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population various thyroid function
Sample Size 2
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Hashimoto Disease
  • Iodine
  • Lactose
  • Thyroid Hormones

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: iodine

Provenance


Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09