Antibiotics Gluten Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Baldness
My impression is that Hashimotos is caused by a combination of an initial immune attack on the thyroid and incompetent regulatory T cells. In most cases the immune attack on the thyroid is a secondary consequence of celiac/gluten intolerance, in which anti-transglutaminase antibodies attack transglutaminase bound to gluten in the intestines. Transglutaminase is an enzyme that is also produced by the thyroid (and hair follicles) and attack by celiac antibodies can enhance or inhibit thyroid hormone production (or baldness.) Both Hashimotos and celiac do not occur if the suppressive part of the immune system, i.e. regulatory T cells, is functioning. Antibiotics Compromise the Immune System The major point here is that antibiotics disrupt normal bacterial biofilms that line the intestines and these healthy gut bacteria are required for development of regulatory T cells. Compromise of Tregs leads to autoimmune diseases, e.g. celiac, Hashimoto’s and b...