89 | id == 89
89 | category_id == 6
89 | category_order == 4
89 | category_name == Thyroid
89 | category_color == #C47AC0
89 | slug == TNF-thyroid-health
89 | title == Could This Inflammation Gene Affect Thyroid Health? (TNF)
89 | meta_description == The TNF gene plays a key role in the immune system, but certain variants may contribute to thyroid problems. Learn more here!
89 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The TNF gene is an important component of the immune system. However, certain genetic variants of TNF can affect how it works, potentially leading to thyroid issues. Find out exactly what this gene does and how it can affect thyroid health.</strong></p>
89 | overall_score_text == Your Overall Thyroid Score (Based On TNF Gene)
89 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TNF-alpha-Thyroid.jpg
89 | author_id == 8
89 | author_name == Mathew Eng
89 | author_title == PharmD
89 | author_order == 40
89 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Mathew.jpg
89 | author_intro == <p><strong>Mathew received his PharmD from the University of Hawaii and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Washington.</strong></p>    <p>Mathew is a licensed pharmacist with clinical experience in oncology, infectious disease, and diabetes management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions.</p>
89 | reviewer == None
89 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
89 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
89 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
89 | publish_date == 2020
89 | publish_date == 2
89 | publish_date == 4
89 | avg_rating == 5.0
89 | tags_id == 33
89 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
89 | tags_id == 96
89 | tags_name == Cytokines
89 | tags_id == 83
89 | tags_name == Grave's Disease
89 | tags_id == 48
89 | tags_name == Hashimoto's
89 | tags_id == 43
89 | tags_name == Hypothyroidism
89 | tags_id == 95
89 | tags_name == Immune System
89 | tags_id == 24
89 | tags_name == Inflammation
89 | tags_id == 117
89 | tags_name == Levothyroxine
89 | tags_id == 235
89 | tags_name == TNF-alpha
89 | tags_id == 234
89 | tags_name == TNF gene
89 | permissions_favorite == False
89 | permissions_rate == False
89 | 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%;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Note: </strong>The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is mentioned in the </span><em><strong><a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/inflammation/">Inflammation DNA Wellness Report</a></strong></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, along with many other genes. If you're looking for a comprehensive report on how your genes may influence the inflammatory response, check it out!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>What Is The <em>TNF</em> Gene?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/tnf/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is responsible for coding a protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (also referred to as </span><strong>TNF-alpha</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or cachexin) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The TNF-alpha protein is a cytokine, a type of protein involved in cell signaling. It plays a major role in the body&rsquo;s immune and inflammatory response [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF-alpha is produced by many components of the immune system, including [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Macrophages</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/intro-natural-killer-cells-increase-decrease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Natural killer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (NK) cells</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/neutrophils/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Neutrophils</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mast cells</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene can lead to improper levels of TNF-alpha in the body. These genetic variations have been associated with several health conditions, such as thyroid disorder, autoimmune diseases, and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014780/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29440561"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17216494"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><strong>How Does The <em>TNF</em> Gene Work?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene helps create TNF-alpha, which plays a role in regulating cells in the immune system. It has several functions throughout the body, many of which are in combination with IL-1 and IL-6 (other types of cytokines) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of the effects of TNF-alpha include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inducing inflammation and fever</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Suppressing appetite</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stimulating phagocytosis, the process which eliminates harmful substances like bacteria from the body</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF-alpha works by binding to specific receptors that activate various cell signaling pathways, such as the MAPK pathway [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><strong><em>TNF</em> Variants And Thyroid Health</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to research, the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene may play an important role in thyroid health.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies show that certain genetic variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may be associated with thyroid disorders, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/graves-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Graves&rsquo; disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hashimotos/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hashimoto's disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following sections, we&rsquo;ll detail how variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are connected to these thyroid conditions and why this association may exist.</span></p> <h3><strong>Graves&rsquo; Disease</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/graves-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Graves&rsquo; disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. It leads to the overproduction of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid hormones</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, otherwise known as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hyperthyroidism </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/graves-disease"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several different genetic variations of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">have been associated with Graves&rsquo; disease. We&rsquo;ll go over each of these variants and who they affect in the sections below.</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF</em> -308 (rs1800629)</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Certain genotypes in </span><a href="../../snp/rs1800629/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1800629</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (also known as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> -308) may be linked to higher rates of Graves&rsquo; disease, according to research.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, one systematic review of 10 studies looked at the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene of over 6,000 people. Researchers found that the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in rs1800629 may be associated with Graves&rsquo; disease in European populations. However, an association was </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> found in Asians [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29440561"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Likewise, a study of over 1,200 subjects also revealed a link between Graves&rsquo; disease and the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in rs1800629, this time in a Portuguese population [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134306/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same association may be present in Tunisian groups, according to a study of 305 people [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18989801"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF </em>-1031 (rs1799964)</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research suggests that </span><a href="../../snp/rs1799964/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1799964</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (commonly referred to as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> -1031) may also be connected to thyroid health.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of 75 patients with Graves&rsquo; disease and 70 healthy controls (all from a Japanese population) found that the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele was significantly more common in those with thyroid disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19250279"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similar results have been found in other research, including a meta-analysis of 10 case-control studies that found the same association between rs1799964 and Grave&rsquo;s disease in a Chinese population [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18472000"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF</em> -863 (rs1800630)</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a meta-analysis of 10 studies with over 2,200 Graves&rsquo; disease patients and 2,600 healthy controls, the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele of </span><a href="../../snp/rs1800630/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1800630</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is more commonly found in Chinese and Thai people with thyroid disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18472000"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF </em>-238 (rs361525)</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele in </span><a href="../../snp/rs361525/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs361525</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (also known as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">-238) was associated with a higher risk of Graves&rsquo; disease in Taiwanese patients, based on one study of 326 subjects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17208210"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another study of over 1,700 Caucasians from the U.K. found the same link between Graves&rsquo; disease and the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15057268"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there are other studies that have </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> found a significant link between this variant and Graves&rsquo; disease in Asian and European populations [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29440561"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To further complicate things, one study found that the &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele was actually more prevalent in Chinese patients with Graves&rsquo; disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19732761"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Hashimoto&rsquo;s Disease</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similar to Graves&rsquo; disease, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hashimotos/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid [</span><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hashimotos-disease"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, in the case of Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, the immune system mistakenly damages the thyroid gland, leading to reduced release of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid hormones</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, also called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypothyroidism </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hashimotos-disease"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are several </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants that may be associated with an increased risk of Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, which we&rsquo;ll describe below.</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF</em> -308 (rs1800629)&nbsp;</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of over 1,100 Portuguese patients suggests that the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele in </span><a href="../../snp/rs1800629/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1800629</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is associated with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25127106"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong><em>TNF </em>-1031 (rs1799964)</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A smaller study of 77 Japanese subjects with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease found that the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele in </span><a href="../../snp/rs1799964/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1799964</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is more common in people with this thyroid disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, researchers also discovered that the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> associated with the severity of Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>How Do <em>TNF</em> Variants Affect The Thyroid?</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research shows that certain variants of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene, such as rs1800629, can lead to increased production of TNF-alpha in the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10534109"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This rise in TNF-levels may alter how the immune system works, which potentially increases the risk for thyroid-related autoimmune disorders, such as Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10534109"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact, the different variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that have been listed may also be associated with many other health conditions, such as:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asthma and COPD [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27382273"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16865291"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16319659"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rheumatoid arthritis [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24306269"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19365401"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16418737"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27257425"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24409077"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <h2><strong>Your <em>TNF</em> Results for Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p><em>You can see your genotypes for TNF in the table below. However, keep in mind that these associations are based on studies from certain ethnic populations &mdash; so you should interpret your results with caution if you are not descended from one of these specific groups!</em></p> <p>*7584748547754927*</p> <p><strong>Primary SNPs:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>TNF</em> <a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/snp/rs1800629/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs1800629</a></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with thyroid disorders</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association has only been found in certain European, Portuguese, and Tunisian populations</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association was </span><strong>not</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> found in Asian populations</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 17% of people have at least one &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>TNF</em> <a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/snp/rs1799964/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs1799964</a></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with thyroid disorders&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association has only been found in certain Japanese and Chinese populations</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 39% of people have at least one &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>TNF</em> <a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/snp/rs1800630/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs1800630</a></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with thyroid disorders&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with Graves&rsquo; disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association has only been found in certain Chinese and Thai populations</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 28% of people have at least one &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>TNF</em> <a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/snp/rs361525/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs361525</a></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with thyroid disorders&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with Graves&rsquo; disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association has only been found in certain Taiwanese and Caucasian populations</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 12% of people have at least one &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p>*1499275051937187*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations To Support The Thyroid</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Autoimmune thyroid disorders, such as Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, are serious health conditions that require medical treatment. If you suspect you may have thyroid issues, speak with your doctor.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following sections, we&rsquo;ll break down some lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices that may help alongside standard treatment. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, keep in mind that these complementary approaches should not replace conventional medical treatment &mdash; and always be sure to discuss any significant lifestyle or diet changes with your doctor first!</span></p> <p>*1436000018537069*</p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Regular Exercise</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to research, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may help reduce inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha, while also improving thyroid health.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although TNF-alpha levels can increase right after exercise (especially after vigorous physical activity), regular exercise can decrease TNF-alpha levels in the long run [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30371169"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22092703"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3320801/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28011264"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several studies also show that aerobic exercise may raise the concentration of thyroid hormones in the blood, while potentially could help those with low levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16380698"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30427779"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond these effects, regular exercise has a multitude of other health benefits, including decreasing the risk of heart disease, increasing </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lifestyle-diet-increase-longevity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">longevity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and generally improving quality of life [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3567315/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6055105/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3396114/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Regular exercise may reduce TNF-alpha, potentially improve thyroid function, and is great for your overall health.</span></p> <h4><strong>Weight Management</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a complex relationship between thyroid function and weight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On one hand, low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) can cause modest weight gain, while an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) may cause weight loss [</span><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hyperthyroidism"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, body fat itself can influence thyroid function by disrupting the balance of thyroid hormones [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25214234"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27923249"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3608008/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research shows that TNF-alpha levels are also directly linked to weight. More specifically, blood levels of TNF-alpha appear to increase as abdominal fat increases [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20580040"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10880890"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s some evidence that </span><a href="https://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;"> in those that are obese can help return thyroid function back to normal [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3608008/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19540303"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Obesity may disrupt thyroid function. Returning to a proper weight may help restore thyroid hormone levels to normal.</span></p> <h4><strong>Quit smoking</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to research, tobacco smokers have significantly higher TNF-alpha levels in the blood compared to nonsmokers [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921689/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2891738/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, smoking may increase thyroid hormone levels and has been linked to greater risk of Graves&rsquo; disease. Some studies suggest that smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of thyroid treatments [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23581474"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24549603"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/412797"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luckily, this effect appears to be reversible &mdash; quitting smoking can help restore normal thyroid function and reduce the risk of developing a thyroid disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23581474"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24549603"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/412797"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regardless of its effects on TNF-alpha and the thyroid, smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. For smokers, quitting can significantly improve life expectancy [</span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/index.htm"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">For smokers, quitting may help restore TNF-alpha levels and thyroid function.</span></p> <p><em>Keep in mind that the FDA hasn't approved the below strategies for the prevention or treatment of thyroid disorders. Make sure to consult with your doctor before trying them out.</em></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the active ingredient of turmeric, is a potent anti-inflammatory that suppresses TNF-alpha [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19723087"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19594223"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A growing body of evidence suggests turmeric as a powerful complementary approach to autoimmune conditions. In a study of 2,335 subjects, those who consumed more turmeric had better thyroid health and lower incidence of goiter (thyroid swelling) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569223"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4366771/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study on rats, curcumin reversed the harmful effects of fluoride on </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hypothyroidism-may-good-autoimmunity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid function</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. More research is needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of curcumin for thyroid disorders [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29715188"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Curcumin may reduce TNF-associated inflammation and autoimmunity. Increased intake of turmeric appears to benefit the thyroid, but more research is needed.</span></p> <h4><strong>Other</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Photobiomodulation&rdquo; (a.k.a. low-level laser) therapy may suppress TNF-alpha and other inflammatory molecules. 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>
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89 | content_snp_table_7584748547754927_hidden == False
89 | content_learn_more_1499275051937187_key == 1499275051937187
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89 | content_learn_more_1499275051937187_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your TNF gene is somewhat associated with thyroid disorder in certain ethnic groups. However, keep in mind that this score represents only one of many different factors that can influence thyroid health. Specific lifestyle and diet changes may help support the thyroid — read on to learn more!
89 | content_recommendation_1436000018537069_key == 1436000018537069
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rsIDs = rs361525,rs1800629,rs1799964,rs1800630
rsStatus = rs361525,TNF,chr6,31575324,G,A,,,6,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1800629,TNF,chr6,31575254,G,A,,,9,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1799964,LTA,chr6,31574531,T,C,,,6,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1800630,LTA,chr6,31574699,C,A,G,,4,0,Normal
