92 | id == 92
92 | category_id == 6
92 | category_order == 4
92 | category_name == Thyroid
92 | category_color == #C47AC0
92 | slug == HLA-DRB1-thyroid-autoimmunity
92 | title == How Crucial Autoimmunity Genes Impact Thyroid Health (HLA)
92 | meta_description == The HLA genes are vital for immunity control. Learn the connection of HLA-DRB1 and other variants with thyroid autoimmunity.
92 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The HLA genes play key roles in the immune system control. Learn everything about the role of HLA-DRB1 and other variants in thyroid autoimmunity.</strong></p>
92 | overall_score_text == Your thyroid autoimmunity score (based on HLA genes)
92 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/HLA-Thyroid.jpg
92 | author_id == 9
92 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
92 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
92 | author_order == 45
92 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
92 | 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>
92 | reviewer == None
92 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
92 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
92 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
92 | publish_date == 2020
92 | publish_date == 2
92 | publish_date == 5
92 | avg_rating == 5.0
92 | tags_id == 33
92 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
92 | tags_id == 249
92 | tags_name == Black cumin
92 | tags_id == 96
92 | tags_name == Cytokines
92 | tags_id == 62
92 | tags_name == Dietary Sensitivity
92 | tags_id == 83
92 | tags_name == Grave's Disease
92 | tags_id == 48
92 | tags_name == Hashimoto's
92 | tags_id == 247
92 | tags_name == HLA-C gene
92 | tags_id == 248
92 | tags_name == HLA-DRB1 gene
92 | tags_id == 72
92 | tags_name == HLA Genes
92 | tags_id == 43
92 | tags_name == Hypothyroidism
92 | tags_id == 95
92 | tags_name == Immune System
92 | tags_id == 32
92 | tags_name == Lectins
92 | tags_id == 41
92 | tags_name == Thyroid
92 | tags_id == 104
92 | tags_name == Tregs
92 | tags_id == 232
92 | tags_name == Vitamin D
92 | permissions_favorite == False
92 | permissions_rate == False
92 | 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%;"><strong>Note:</strong> &nbsp;We analyze the <em>HLA genes </em>in our <a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/inflammation/"><em>Inflammation DNA Wellness Report</em></a>, along with many other genes. If you're looking for a comprehensive report on the genetic factors of inflammation, check it out!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>The HLA System in Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is a group of human genes encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, or HLAs. HLAs are proteins or antigens on the surface of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-and-decrease-white-blood-cells/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">white blood cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They help flag and remove external agents that may harm the body or cause infections [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-B"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA genes come in many different forms, and there are millions of their possible combinations. Their diversity ensures the protection against a wide array of external threats, but it can be a double-edged sword: some variants correlate with autoimmune disorders such as [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5748415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647156/"><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;">Autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diabetes type 1</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lupus</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inflammatory bowel disease (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ibd-ulcerative-colitis-crohn-genetics-lifestyle-stress-infections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IBD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span></li> </ul> <h3><strong>HLA-DRB1</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The HLA system has three groups or classes; </span><a href="../../gene/hla-drb1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-DRB1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which we&rsquo;ll focus on in this post, belongs to the class II. These proteins are expressed on antigen-presenting cells, and they present foreign peptides (antigens) to T-helper cells. Upon this signal, T-helpers stimulate B cells to make antibodies to specific antigens, which attack and neutralize them [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-DRB1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/87/12/5385/2823576"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Along with </span><a href="../../gene/hla-b/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-B</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, HLA-DRB1 has the highest diversity in the entire human genome. Unfortunately, some variants can mistakenly &ldquo;flag&rdquo; the body&rsquo;s components as external threats and initiate an autoimmune reaction [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4824864/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><strong>HLA Variants and Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders</strong></h2> <h3><strong>Graves&rsquo; Disease</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the earliest observed genetic associations with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/graves-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Graves' disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (autoimmune hyperthyroidism) refers to a so-called "DR3-DQ2" haplotype (a group of genetic variants). It includes three alleles &mdash; </span><strong>DRB1*0301</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><strong>DQB1*0201</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><strong>DQA1*0501 </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash; and correlates with more than doubled GD rates [</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><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/87/12/5385/2823576"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Further analyses have shown that these variants are almost always inherited together in Caucasian (European) populations, so they act as a single genetic factor. </span><strong>DRB1*0301</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is likely the lead variant responsible for the association with Graves&rsquo; disease [</span><a href="https://www.ijcmas.com/vol-3-1/Batool%20Mutar%20Mahdi.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two studies of over 1,800 subjects, carriers of DRB1*0301 had 2.5-3x higher GD rates [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11146462/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1196419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studying its connection with other autoimmune conditions, scientists have identified a &ldquo;tag&rdquo; SNP for DRB1*0301: the &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs2187668/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2187668</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2065882/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The above haplotype is among the crucial genetic factors of celiac disease in European descendants, confirming a strong connection between gluten intolerance and autoimmune thyroid conditions. Other associated conditions include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2386975/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6221752/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4829354/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4512221/"><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;">Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)</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;">Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (kidney disease)</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The HLA-DRB1*0301 variant is primarily responsible for the association between HLA genes and Graves&rsquo; disease (GD). People with this variant, tagged by rs2187668-T, may have up to 3x higher GD rates.</span></p> <h3><strong>Hashimoto&rsquo;s Disease</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The connection between HLA alleles and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hashimotos/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hashimoto's</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> disease (autoimmune hypothyroidism) is less clear but also points to a significant role of the HLA-DR3 group, which includes HLA-DRB1. According to a review of clinical trials, it correlates with 1.8x higher HD rates [</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><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6947505/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11678832/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of over 39,000 participants found an SNP in the HLA-DRB1 gene slightly associated with low </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid hormones</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People with the &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs2516049/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2516049</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had 15% higher rates of hypothyroidism [</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><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given the known role of HLA-DRB1 in autoimmunity, the affected people likely have Hashimoto's disease. The same SNP is also associated with [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3542101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824608/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2652837/"><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;">Epstein-Barr virus infection</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asthma</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ulcerative colitis</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Different HLA-DRB1 variants, such as rs2516049-C, correlate with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, confirming a significant role of this gene in thyroid autoimmunity.</span></p> <h3><strong>How It Works</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To determine precisely how HLA-DR variants contribute to thyroid autoimmunity, researchers studied their impact on protein structure and expression. According to their findings, a single amino acid is to be blamed!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Namely, DRB1*0301 replaces neutral amino acids (alanine or </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/glycine-little-protein/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glycine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) with the positively charged </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/l-arginine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">arginine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the beta-1 chain of the HLA-DR receptor (see the image above). This changes the receptor structure and causes it to bind specific thyroid peptides, signaling the production of antibodies against them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15029234"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2244911/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15558498/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As key controllers of T cell activation, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">regulatory T cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Tregs) can prevent or reduce this harmful chain reaction. In animal models, increasing Tregs have suppressed autoimmune thyroid inflammation. On the other hand, mice depleted of Tregs were more susceptible to both Graves&rsquo; and Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15790360/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15905543/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17823263/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">HLA-DRB1 variants can change the receptor structure and cause it to confuse healthy thyroid peptides for harmful antigens. This error results in the production of thyroid autoantibodies, but regulatory T cells can prevent or reduce it.</span></p> <h3><strong>Other HLA Variants in Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists didn't expect HLA class I variants to be associated with thyroid autoimmunity because the class I receptors present bacterial and viral peptides from the cell interior (cytosol).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, a UK study of nearly 1,300 patients identified different </span><a href="../../gene/hla-c/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HLA-C</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (class I) alleles as crucial factors behind the HLA and Graves&rsquo; disease connection [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17597093/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the previously mentioned study of almost 40,000 subjects, one variant near HLA-C was associated with low thyroid hormones. Carriers of the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs2517532/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2517532</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> were less likely to have hypothyroidism [</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><span style="font-weight: 400;">The exact mechanism behind this connection is yet to be determined. A group of authors suggested the following: antibodies to viral or bacterial antigens presented by HLA-C can confuse thyroid structures for their real targets. This phenomenon is called "molecular mimicry" [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17597093/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Some HLA-C (class I) variants, such as rs2517532, also correlate with thyroid autoimmunity. The exact mechanisms are still unknown, but they probably include antibodies to viral and bacterial antigens.</span></p> <h3><strong>Other Populations</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Different HLA variants have shown significant association with thyroid autoimmunity in non-Caucasian populations, such as Chinese and Korean, but they fall beyond the scope of this post.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are preparing a comprehensive report with all genetic factors that significantly impact thyroid health &mdash; <strong>stay tuned!</strong></span></p> <h2><strong>Your HLA Results for Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p><strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotype for key HLA</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs in the table below. However, keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, and more research will be needed to know what role (if any) these variants play in actually </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">causing</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> thyroid disorders. Also, many different factors &mdash; including other genetic and environmental factors &mdash; can influence thyroid health. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at an increased risk of developing a thyroid disorder!</span></em></strong></p> <h3><strong>SNP Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>*1653701014020177*</strong></p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>HLA-DRB1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs2187668/"><strong>rs2187668</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;C&rdquo; - doesn&rsquo;t correlate with Graves&rsquo; disease</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;T&rdquo; - correlates with higher rates of Graves&rsquo; disease</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Other important SNPs:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>HLA-DRB1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs2516049/"><strong>rs2516049</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;T&rdquo; - doesn&rsquo;t correlate with autoimmune hypothyroidism</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;C&rdquo; - correlates with higher rates of autoimmune hypothyroidism</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>HLA-C</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs2517532/"><strong>rs2517532</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;G&rdquo; - doesn&rsquo;t correlate with autoimmune hypothyroidism</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;A&rdquo; - correlates with lower rates of autoimmune hypothyroidism</span></li> </ul> <h3><strong>Population Frequency</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For rs2187668, only 20% of people of European ancestry carry the &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele. Its frequency in other populations is even lower.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For rs2516049, about 42% of European descendants carry the hypothyroidism-associated &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele (12% have both copies). Its frequency is significantly lower in East Asian populations (24%).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For rs2517532, about 50% of European descendants have one copy and 17% have both copies of the protective &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele. In Asian populations, 25% of people carry both copies.</span></p> <p><strong>*5324493907003383*</strong></p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Improve Thyroid Health</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">There isn&rsquo;t a known way to prevent Graves&rsquo; or Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, but doctors can successfully treat these conditions with medications once diagnosed.</span></em></p> <p><em><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. 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><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><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></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following sections, we'll detail some lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices that may help improve overall health and reduce inflammation, potentially reducing the impact of your HLA genes on thyroid health. </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, keep in mind these are complementary and preventative approaches, which should not replace conventional medical treatment. Be sure to discuss any significant lifestyle changes or new supplements with your doctor first!</span></em></p> <p><strong>*2887423484200719*</strong></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Please note that the regulatory bodies haven't approved dietary approaches discussed below when it comes to thyroid disorders. Speak with your doctor before making any major dietary and lifestyle changes!</span></em></p> <h4><strong>Elimination Diets</strong></h4> <h5><strong>Gluten</strong></h5> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Autoimmune hypothyroidism and celiac disease often go hand-in-hand. Additionally, the most common autoimmune condition associated with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27256300"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18611971"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5897856/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRB1*030, the primary HLA variant associated with thyroid autoimmunity, also strongly correlates with celiac disease in European descendants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11146462/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1196419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2386975/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a trial study in 34 women with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), a gluten-free diet reduced the levels of antibodies and resulted in mild clinical improvements. However, it had no apparent benefits for the thyroid in 27 adults with AITD and celiac disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22126672"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h5><strong>Soy Isoflavones</strong></h5> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In iodine-deficient individuals with hypothyroidism, soy isoflavones (genistein and daidzein) may further impair thyroid function. That said, soy isoflavones aren&rsquo;t likely to cause trouble in healthy people with adequate iodine levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16571087"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h5><strong>Lectins</strong></h5> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dietary lectins may worsen inflammation in people sensitive to them. For example, lectins contributed to autoimmunity in one study with rheumatoid arthritis patients. Preliminary research suggests that avoiding lectins may reduce the symptoms of autoimmune conditions in sensitive individuals [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10884708"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599185"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, more research is needed to clarify the possible connection between lectins and autoimmunity in humans.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elimination diets such as the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/elimination-diet-safest-foods-people-sensitive-everything/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lectin Avoidance Diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may help identify common food irritants &mdash; such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lectins-beneficial-harmful/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lectins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and gluten &mdash; that may be worsening autoimmunity in sensitive individuals. Therefore, it might be worth giving a diet like this a test-run for a month or two to see how your body reacts [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10884708"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599185"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5647120/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Certain dietary compounds, such as gluten or lectins, may contribute to HLA-associated thyroid issues in sensitive people. Elimination diets may help identify these food sensitivities, but their therapeutic potential is not well-researched.</span></p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some research has suggested that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV light</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and vitamin D may boost T-regs, potentially counteracting the effects of your HLA 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.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2013/807971/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><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 are each 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><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><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. However, be careful not to get sunburns and damage the skin!</span></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that the FDA hasn't approved the below supplements for the prevention or treatment of thyroid disorders. Always speak with your doctor before trying out any new supplements or treatment options.</span></em></p> <h4><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://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 prevent HLA-associated autoimmunity by increasing the activity of Tregs while suppressing inflammatory </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-people-th1-dominant/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Th1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> cells. What&rsquo;s more, it may directly suppress HLA (MHC) class II molecules, according to cell-based research [</span><a href="http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/548086/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17911375/"><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.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2013/807971/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16046118"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease have significantly lower vitamin D levels compared with healthy controls. Supplementation reduced thyroid antibodies in 75 patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697689"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29528579"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24609834"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Black Cumin</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black cumin or </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/black-cumin-seed-nigella-sativa-top-scientific-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">black seed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has well-known anti-inflammatory properties. Its active ingredient, thymoquinone, was able to reduce the expression of HLA class II receptors on immune cells [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20110691"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of 40 patients with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease, black seed powder (2 g daily for 8 weeks) reduced TSH levels (by 36%) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody levels (by 50%) while increasing T3. Further trials are needed to confirm these promising results [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5112739/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p>
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92 | content_learn_more_5324493907003383_text == Some of your HLA variants are slightly associated with autoimmune thyroid conditions. However, keep in mind that HLA is just one of many different genetic factors that can influence thyroid health. Specific dietary and lifestyle changes may help by reducing thyroid antibodies — read on to learn more!
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rsIDs = rs2516049,rs2517532,rs2187668
rsStatus = rs2516049,,chr6,32602623,T,C,,,18,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2517532,,chr6,31050630,A,G,,,6,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2187668,HLA-DQA1,chr6,32638107,C,T,,,0,0,Unknown
