82 | id == 82
82 | category_id == 6
82 | category_order == 4
82 | category_name == Thyroid
82 | category_color == #C47AC0
82 | slug == CTLA4-Thyroid-Autoimmunity
82 | title == How This Autoimmunity Gene Impacts Thyroid Health (CTLA4)
82 | meta_description == CTLA4 variants are associated with different autoimmune disorders. Learn their connection with thyroid autoimmunity.
82 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>CTLA4</em>&nbsp;gene is essential for a balanced immune response. Read on to learn more about the&nbsp;<em>CTLA4</em> genetic variants associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders, as well as what your own genetic variants can potentially tell you about your thyroid health!</strong></p>
82 | overall_score_text == Your Thyroid Autoimmunity Score (based on CTLA4 Gene)
82 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/af5c7ef1.jpg
82 | author_id == 9
82 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
82 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
82 | author_order == 45
82 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
82 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
82 | reviewer == None
82 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
82 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
82 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
82 | publish_date == 2020
82 | publish_date == 1
82 | publish_date == 21
82 | avg_rating == 5.0
82 | tags_id == 33
82 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
82 | tags_id == 226
82 | tags_name == CTLA4 gene
82 | tags_id == 96
82 | tags_name == Cytokines
82 | tags_id == 62
82 | tags_name == Dietary Sensitivity
82 | tags_id == 83
82 | tags_name == Grave's Disease
82 | tags_id == 48
82 | tags_name == Hashimoto's
82 | tags_id == 95
82 | tags_name == Immune System
82 | tags_id == 24
82 | tags_name == Inflammation
82 | tags_id == 41
82 | tags_name == Thyroid
82 | tags_id == 104
82 | tags_name == Tregs
82 | permissions_favorite == False
82 | permissions_rate == False
82 | content_article == <table style="width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: justify;"><strong>Note:</strong>&nbsp;If you're curious to learn more about the many different genetic factors that can influence chronic inflammation&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;and what you can potentially do to counteract them&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;we highly recommend checking out SelfDecode's&nbsp;<a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em>Inflammation DNA Wellness Report</em></strong></a>, which will you give you personalized analysis of many key inflammation-related genes!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CTLA4: A Key Immunity Controller</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your body works 24/7 to keep the immune system in balance. Weak immunity would make you prone to cancer, chronic diseases, and microbes, while overactive immunity opens the door for allergies and autoimmune conditions. CTLA4 is one of your main tools for fine-tuning defense mechanisms.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/ctla4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (<em>cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4</em>) gene encodes for a protein that keeps the immune response in check by suppressing T-cells. Another regulatory protein, CD28, stimulates T-cells, while CTLA4 inhibits them: these two work in balance to ensure optimal immune reaction [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29208439"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CTLA4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animal models have confirmed the inhibitory effect of CTLA4 on the immune system. CTLA4-blocking antibodies enhance antitumor and antimicrobial protection but also trigger allergic reactions and autoimmunity. In other words, the immune system becomes overactive in the absence of this &ldquo;checkpoint&rdquo; [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15132716"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not surprisingly, scientists have associated specific </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene variations with [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CTLA4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043086/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15790353"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Autoimmune thyroid disorders</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Type 1 diabetes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Celiac disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lupus</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ibd-ulcerative-colitis-crohn-genetics-lifestyle-stress-infections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ulcerative colitis</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/causes-symptoms-diagnosis-risk-factors-of-multiple-sclerosis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple sclerosis</span></a></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em>CTLA-4</em> encodes for a protein that keeps the immune response in check. The lack of this controller causes an enhanced immune response but also contributes to allergic reactions and autoimmunity.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CTLA4 and Autoimmunity: How It Works</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the absence of CTLA4, cell-damaging (cytotoxic) T-cells become much more active and overproduce cytokines such as </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/interferon-gamma-how-to-increase-decrease-high-low-levels/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IFN-gamma</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They can infiltrate healthy tissue and stimulate the production of self-harming antibodies, which are the hallmark of autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15790353"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with a rare genetic condition, CTLA4 deficiency, have enlarged lymph nodes and spleen,&nbsp; due to overproduction of immune cells, and a wide range of autoimmune problems [</span><a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/ctla4-deficiency"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blocking CTLA4 with specific antibodies stimulates T-cells and </span><a href="http://www.selfdecode.com/gene/il2/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-2</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> production. Mice without this protein die due to overactive T </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lymphocytes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lymphocytes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that attack and destroy healthy tissue. On the other hand, the administration of CTLA4 can suppress an autoimmune response in lupus, arthritis, and diabetes models [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043086/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043086"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The exact mechanisms by which CTLA4 suppresses T-cell immune response are still being studied. A part of the answer lies in </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">regulatory T cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which are known to prevent autoimmune reactions. CTLA4 likely stimulates while CD28 suppresses Treg function and survival [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2193248/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2193261/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">CTLA4 prevents an autoimmune response by suppressing cytotoxic T cells and overproduction of cytokines such as IFN-gamma and IL-2. Regulatory T cells likely mediate this effect.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA4</em> Variants and Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many thyroid disorders have an autoimmune background. Autoimmune thyroid disorders are conditions in which the immune system targets the thyroid gland and alters its function; the two main types are [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3189552/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hashimotos/"><strong>Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease</strong></a><strong>:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> T-cells and antibodies target the thyroid gland and attack its tissues, resulting in thyroid hormone deficiency (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/low-thyroid-hormones-low-t3-syndrome/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypothyroidism</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/graves-disease/"><strong>Graves&rsquo; disease</strong></a><strong>:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> antibodies bind to the thyroid gland causing it to be chronically stimulated, resulting in excess </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid hormones</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hyperthyroidism</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Besides other autoimmune conditions, studies have identified significant roles of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants in the above thyroid disorders. Here we'll discuss the three most important variations (SNPs) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>rs231775 ('A49G')</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have investigated the connection between </span><a href="../../snp/rs231775/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs231775</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and autoimmune thyroid condition. On average, carriers of the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele had 40-60% higher rates of Graves&rsquo; disease, compared with the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele. The association with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease is similar, but there&rsquo;s less clinical data to back it up [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15132716"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials and 15,000 subjects have confirmed and summarized the above findings: those with at least one copy of the &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele had 49% and 29% higher rates of Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, respectively. The results were consistent among European and Asian participants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17504905"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Disease Severity and Complications</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of nearly 1,000 European (Caucasian) subjects with Graves&rsquo; disease (GD), the 'G' allele on rs231775 was associated with higher thyroxine levels and a more severe disease form [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10404810/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one Japanese study, the 'G' allele (and the 'GG' genotype) were more common among GD patients who didn&rsquo;t fully recover after five years of treatment [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12050220/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some authors have reported an association between this variant and eye disease in GD patients (Graves&rsquo; orbitopathy, GO). However, others have failed to confirm this and suggested that the association stems from a more severe disease in &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele carriers [</span><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)70596-1/fulltext"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11041456/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043086/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The 'G' allele on rs231775 is associated with Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease. Carriers of this allele may also have more severe, treatment-resistant forms of Graves&rsquo; disease.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>rs3087243 ('CT60')</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials (over 10,300 Asian and European participants), the 'G' allele on </span><a href="../../snp/rs3087243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs3087243</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was associated with 45% and 64% higher rates of Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, respectively [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17504905" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Japanese study of 1,800 participants confirmed the association between this variant and autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD). Additionally, type 1 diabetes patients with the 'G' allele were more likely to have AITD as a complication [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16352685/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 'G' allele of rs3087243 was also associated with 84% higher rates of Graves&rsquo; disease, according to a more recent Chinese study of 578 subjects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4576490/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Carriers of the 'G' allele on rs3087243 are more likely to have an autoimmune thyroid disorder as a primary condition or as a complication of type 1 diabetes.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>rs231779</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one of the largest studies investigating genetic factors of hypothyroidism in nearly 40K participants, </span><a href="../../snp/rs231779/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs231779</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> showed a weak association. Those with the 'T' allele had 13% higher rates of hypothyroidism, compared with the 'C' allele [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3321023/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The authors emphasized the well-known connection between this gene and thyroid autoimmunity, which was likely responsible for low thyroid hormones.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This variant may also be associated with Graves&rsquo; disease, according to a Chinese study of 4,800 subjects. Those with the 'T' allele had 35% higher rates of GD [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2843719/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key Mechanisms at Play</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned, reduced expression of CTLA4 may lead to an overactive and self-destructive immune response. A couple of studies have confirmed that the rs231775 variant reduces </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene expression and the number of CTLA4 proteins expressed on immune cells [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12244107/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4786160/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to other research, this variant changes the structure of the CTLA4 peptide and prevents its inhibitory effect on T-cell activation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11976786/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11086105/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists are still figuring out the exact mechanisms, but the end result is the same: uncontrolled immune response and the production of antibodies to thyroid components such as </span><em><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroglobulin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroglobulin</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and <em>thyroid peroxidase</em> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12097196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16611252/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the mechanisms behind other variants haven&rsquo;t been studied in-depth, they likely follow similar patterns.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The above variants have been reported to reduce <em>CTLA4</em> expression, and suppress its inhibitory effect on T-cells. This leads to an overactive immune response and the production of autoantibodies to different thyroid structures.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>CTLA4</em> Results for Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotype for several </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs in the table below. However, note that these variants are just associated with some aspects of thyroid health. That does not mean they will necessarily make you more prone to thyroid disorders! More research will be needed to determine whether and how much they contribute to the actual development of thyroid autoimmunity.</span></em></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SNP Table:</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*7277748721086352*</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA-4</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs231775/"><strong>rs231775</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; doesn&rsquo;t correlate with autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; correlates with higher rates of AITD</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA-4 </em></strong><a href="../../snp/rs231779/"><strong>rs231779</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; doesn&rsquo;t correlate with AITD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; correlates with higher rates of AITD</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA-4 </em></strong><a href="../../snp/rs3087243/"><strong>rs3087243</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; doesn&rsquo;t correlate with AITD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; correlates with higher rates of AITD</span></li> </ul> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Population Frequency</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first two SNPs, rs231775 and rs231779, are almost always inherited together, which means they essentially act as a single genetic factor. Around </span><strong>60% of European descendants</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> carry at least one copy of the &ldquo;problematic&rdquo; alleles (G and T, respectively).&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The frequency of these alleles is much higher in East Asian populations (China, Japan), where around 40% of people carry both copies ('GG' and 'TT', respectively).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to rs3087243, approximately </span><strong>27% of European descendants</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> carry both copies of the &ldquo;problematic&rdquo; G allele (GG). This combination is more common in East Asian (55%) and African (67%) populations.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*9672948340507495*</strong></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations to Support the Thyroid</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There isn&rsquo;t any known way to actively prevent Graves&rsquo; or Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease &mdash; but doctors can successfully treat these conditions with medications once diagnosed.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The symptoms of Graves' disease can include sudden </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, increased </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/resting-heart-rate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">heart rate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, sweating, and shaky hands. Hashimoto's disease can manifest with fatigue, a pale and puffy face, weight gain, and intolerance to cold temperatures [</span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you think you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult with your doctor to ensure you get adequate medical care!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following sections, we'll detail some lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices that may help alongside standard treatment. However, keep in mind that these complementary approaches should not replace conventional medical treatment &mdash; and always be sure to discuss any significant lifestyle changes or new supplements with your doctor first!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*3857646743468974*&nbsp;</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some research has suggested that UV light and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may boost T-regs and reduce cytotoxic T cells, potentially lowering the impact of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants [</span><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0054895"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3626364/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047889/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371662/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8760564"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sensible </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sun exposure</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the best way to get natural UV light and vitamin D. More sunlight during the day may also improve your </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/what-it-means-to-keep-to-a-circadian-rhythm/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">circadian rhythm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-sleep/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep quality</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is essential for maintaining thyroid health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2105332/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8827131"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416066453000268"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, spending more time in the sun increases the risk of skin damage &mdash; so make sure to find the right balance and avoid getting sunburns [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4730532/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">By providing natural UV light and vitamin D, sun exposure may re-balance the immune system and support the thyroid. Just be careful not to get sunburns and damage the skin!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Keep in mind that the FDA has not approved the below complementary approaches for the prevention or treatment of thyroid disorders. Always speak with your doctor before trying out any new supplements or treatment options.</em></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to preliminary research,</span> <a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can directly increase <em>CTLA4</em> expression in the immune cells. The authors suggested this mechanism is responsible for beneficial effects of vitamin D on autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4489761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements can be a useful way to correct a vitamin deficiency due to inadequate sun exposure or other factors. According to a meta-analysis of 26 clinical trials, Graves' disease patients are 2.2 times more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4446781/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D supplementation lowered thyroid volume and improved eye health in a study of 60 GD patients. However, before we draw any reliable conclusions, further clinical trials will be needed to confirm this effect of vitamin D [</span><a href="http://www.esim.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-7782;year=2017;volume=29;issue=2;spage=64;epage=70;aulast=Sheriba;type=0"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin D may increase <em>CTLA4</em> expression and combat autoimmunity. Supplements can help correct vitamin D deficiency, which is up to twice as common among Graves' disease patients.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fish Oil / DHA</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Docosahexaenoic acid</em> (DHA), which is abundant in </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, may increase the expression of CTLA4, according to one study on immune cells [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781310/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (EPA and DHA) may help with various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. However, their effectiveness for managing autoimmune thyroid issues has not been researched in-depth [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480795"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11802309"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some early studies have reported that fish oil increased the <a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/hypothyroidism-may-good-autoimmunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thyroid hormone</a> </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroxine</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">T4</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) in a clinical trial of 66 participants. Additionally, a few animal studies have reported that it stimulated thyroid receptors and protected against hypothyroidism in mice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3698653/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19793640"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11691645"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">More research will be needed to determine how effective fish oil might be for thyroid autoimmunity.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Fish oil (DHA) may increase CTLA4 expression. It has shown benefits for different autoimmune conditions &mdash; but its effects on the thyroid are not well-researched.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Probiotics</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Preliminary clinical evidence has associated </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/gut-bacteria-microbiome/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gut microbiome</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> disturbances with thyroid autoimmunity. Certain probiotic strains&mdash;such as </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/l-salivarius/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. salivarius</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-l-plantarum/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. plantarum</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/l-lactis/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. lactis</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash;may support CTLA4 by boosting Tregs&nbsp; [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29320965"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6158725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4723764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28294465"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30134660"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Other</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Photobiomodulation&rdquo; (a.k.a. low-level laser) therapy can increase Tregs and relieve inflammation. In preliminary clinical trials, it reduced thyroid antibodies and improved the symptoms of Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20662037"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22718472"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6247385/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
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82 | content_learn_more_9672948340507495_text == Some of your CTLA4 variants are weakly associated with thyroid autoimmunity. However, keep in mind that CTLA4 is just one of many different genetic factors that can influence thyroid health. Specific lifestyle changes and supplements may help by reducing autoimmunity and supporting the thyroid — read on to learn more!
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