The Low Thyroid – Gut Connection

Low metabolism can impact your GI tract.

Every cell in your body relies on metabolism-regulating thyroid hormones to function properly, so it’s no surprise that low thyroid activity–and the resulting low metabolism–can cause gastrointestinal trouble.  A lot of that trouble is “functional.” That is, it has to do with the way the gut functions in real life and is not some structural abnormality that will show up on endoscopy, x-rays or blood tests. These functional problems are likely to involve GI tract motility–the coordinated movement of food from top to bottom. Chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, delayed stomach emptying and gallbladder sludge and stones can be symptoms of motility problems.

Functional problems can also involve the gut’s ability to secrete digestive enzymes that allow nutrient breakdown and absorption. Bloating, gas, smelly stools and bacterial overgrowth can be symptoms of these problems.  Functional problems can also involve a condition called “leaky gut.” This is increased permeability of the intestinal lining, which can set off body-wide inflammation and increase the risk for autoimmune disorders, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Thyroid hormones help maintain tight junctures between the cells lining the intestines and have been shown to protect gut mucosal lining from stress-induced ulcers.

Functional gastrointestinal problems are common. In fact, about 1 in 4 people in the U.S. have some activity limitation of daily function due to these disorders. The conditions account for about 41% of GI problems seen by doctors and therapists.

Could it be that low metabolism and low body temperature are at the bottom of many cases of functional gastrointestinal problems?  It’s certainly worth checking out. Low body temperature and low T3 (the body’s active form of thyroid hormone) can certainly interfere with the body’s ability to generate the electrical activity in muscles needed for gut motility. It will interfere with the body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes and the many gut hormones needed for proper digestion. It will also affect the intestine’s ability to maintain and repair its lining, which has a high cell turn-over rate.

Unfortunately, standard thyroid blood tests do not detect these sorts of thyroid problems. That’s why body temperature needs to be looked at as well. If it is consistently below 97.8 F, there’s a very good chance your metabolism has slowed down. (For complete instructions on how to take your body temperature accurately, see “How are body temperatures measured”.)

If your body temperature is consistently low despite having normal thyroid tests (a condition called Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome) there’s a good chance that low metabolism is underlying your gastrointestinal problems and should be addressed even as you treat your GI symptoms with improved diet, more fiber, probiotics, and getting enough fluids, exercise and rest. You can discuss taking a course of T3 (active thyroid hormone) with your doctor.   Your doctor can call us at 800.420.5801 to get more information about how to use T3 and to discuss your individual case.  The object of T3 therapy is to normalize your oral body temperatures to average 98.6 during treatment.  Herbal supplements can also help support healthy thyroid and adrenal function.

REFERENCES

Canpolat AG, Kav T, Sivri B, et al. Effects of L-thyroxine on gastric motility and ghrelin in subclinical hypothyroidism: a prospective study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):E1775-9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-1488. Epub 2013 Sep 5.

Daher R, Yazbeck T, Jaoude JB, et al.  Consequences of dysthyroidism on the digestive tract and viscera. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jun 21;15(23):2834-8.

Misra GC, Bose SL, Samal AK. Malabsorption in thyroid dysfunctions.

J Indian Med Assoc. 1991 Jul;89(7):195-7.