Anti TPO Thyroid Antibody Guide: Symptoms + Optimal Ranges & More

Your anti-TPO antibody levels mean that your thyroid may be functioning sub-optimally. 

The presence of these antibodies indicates an inflammatory state in your body that needs to be treated. 

You can focus on certain therapies to help reduce these antibody levels and improve your thyroid function.

In this guide, I will walk you through optimal ranges for thyroid lab tests (including thyroid peroxidase antibodies), the complete symptom list for patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, and 5 steps to reduce these antibody levels.

Let’s dive in: ​

What your anti-TPO levels mean for your Body

Maybe you’ve just found out that you have elevated anti-TPO antibodies, or maybe you are experiencing hypothyroid symptoms with “normal” thyroid lab studies…

In either event, it’s important to understand what these antibodies mean for your body.

The presence of anti-TPO antibodies in your bloodstream is an indication that you may have an autoimmune condition.

In this case, it’s an autoimmune condition targeted to your thyroid gland.

The presence of anti-TPO antibodies is an indication that your immune system is not working properly.

These antibodies represent your body mistaking your thyroid gland as an enemy tissue and an attempt to destroy that tissue.

This is what is meant by auto (meaning yourself) and immune (meaning immune system).

Putting this together means your immune system is attacking your own body. ​

Obviously, this isn’t ideal, and we are going to talk about how to diagnose, manage, and treat this condition throughout this article but I want to focus on a couple of other topics before we get there.

First, you need to realize that the presence of these antibodies indicates that your immune system is NOT working properly. 

Autoimmunity is also associated with some degree of inflammation (this varies based on the individual but it is always present).

Autoimmunity and inflammation in your thyroid are important for several reasons:

1) Your thyroid controls multiple functions in your body including your metabolism (1) (Low metabolism leads to weight gain, fatigue, and a low body temperature).

2) Your thyroid helps influence other hormones in your body(low thyroid leads to hormonal imbalances like low progesterone (2)). 

3) If this autoimmune condition, if left untreated, can result in permanent damage to your thyroid gland(this also means that not all cases of elevated anti-TPOs need to be treated). 

4) Symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis do not necessarily match regular cases of hypothyroidism(meaning it can be difficult to diagnose). 

5) ​This autoimmune condition may result in episodes of hyperthyroidism (3) and episodes of hypothyroidism due to glandular damage

The presence of these antibodies changes management completely due to the reasons provided above. 

This is actually a good thing because it means that you have a chance to treat the condition and manage some of the symptoms yourself.

It also means the earlier you get started to treat the condition the more of your thyroid gland you can save and protect. ​

• Bottom line: The presence of anti-TPOs in your bloodstream indicates the presence of autoimmunity and inflammation. This condition should be differentiated from regular hypothyroidism which means that the treatment for this condition is different. 

​Hashimoto’s and Autoimmune Thyroiditis – why making the diagnosis matters

The presence of anti-TPO antibodies in your blood is an indication of autoimmune thyroiditis. 

In a general sense, this means that your body is attacking your own thyroid gland (for reasons we will discuss further below), and the term autoimmune thyroiditis is meant to define this condition as a broad term.

The condition you may be familiar with is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is another form of autoimmune thyroiditis.

You can find the full list of autoimmune thyroiditis conditions here. 

So why does the presence of these antibodies even matter?

It turns out that it matters quite a bit. 

The presence of anti-TPO antibodies changes treatment completely and it means that more must be done to reduce inflammation and autoimmunity. 

Unfortunately, many providers, physicians, and endocrinologists take the “wait and see” approach to managing these conditions. 

In addition, many cases of autoimmune thyroiditis are missed because routine testing for TPO antibodies is not commonplace. ​

Most patients are told to do nothing until their thyroid gland stops functioning well before they are put on thyroid hormone medication. 

This is unfortunate for many reasons which we will discuss below, but primarily because leaving the inflammation may lead to permanent gland damage over time. 

This is why many patients with undiagnosed autoimmune thyroiditis need to be on thyroid medication. 

The constant damage from their own immune system may result in permanent damage to their thyroid gland. 

The good news is that not all patients with autoimmune thyroiditis need thyroid hormone (as long as they catch the diagnosis early).

​The presence of these antibodies also indicates that you have several other problems in your body that may need to be addressed including (these problems often trigger the autoimmune component):

• Nutrient deficiencies (4)
• Gastrointestinal issues (like increased intestinal permeability) 
• Hormone imbalances (5)
• Active inflammation coming from somewhere inside your body
• Potentially other autoimmune diseases (or an increased risk of developing other autoimmune diseases)

Treating these conditions can actually IMPROVE thyroid function and reduce your symptoms without taking any thyroid hormone. 

This provides a huge opportunity for patients to actually help themselves, as long as they have some direction and know where/what to look for. ​

• Bottom line: Determining the difference between hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis is very important because the treatment is different for both conditions. The presence of autoimmune thyroiditis indicates that other organs and systems in the body are involved and must be treated for the best results. 

Symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis differ from regular hypothyroidism

Much like the treatment for autoimmune thyroiditis differs from regular hypothyroidism, so do the symptoms of both conditions.

Having elevated anti-TPO antibodies is often associated with diffuse and unusual symptoms that don’t necessarily correlate with traditional symptoms of hypothyroidism.

​These unusual symptoms often lead patients and providers down the wrong path and make diagnosing autoimmune thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s more difficult. 

To make this easier I’ve included these non-specific symptoms below. 

Symptoms associated with elevated anti-TPO levels:

• General fatigue or sensation of being “run-down”
• Mild weight gain(usually 5-10 pounds)
• Flat affect or depressed mood, not feeling like yourself
• Mild difficulty with concentration or inability to focus
• Dry skin, cracked lips, dry & brittle hair, non-specific rashes or patches on the skin
• Mild constipation
• Mild fluid retention(especially in the face and lower extremities) 
• Voice hoarseness or sensation of a “swollen throat”
• Reduction in sweating or inability to sweat
• Mild joint pain or muscle aches
• Changes to the menstrual cycle may include an irregular cycle, reduced/increased flow, etc. 

As you can see these symptoms are very non-specific. 

As a result, many of these symptoms tend to be ignored (usually by Doctors), leading them to test for non-specific conditions such as anemia.

Ultimately many of these symptoms get lumped into the category of depression, and many physicians may recommend the use of anti-depressants instead of the correct treatment to manage thyroid function and reduce autoimmunity. 

If these symptoms are ignored, or proper treatment isn’t instituted then these symptoms may evolve into overt symptoms of hypothyroidism.

This process largely occurs due to thyroid gland damage.

The signs and symptoms above should be a warning that this process is happening and worsening symptoms indicate that the disease may be progressing.

While you have glandular damage it’s actually possible to have episodes where thyroid hormone pumps into the body due to the damage and may cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism. 

Below I’ve included a chart that tracks the TSH and FT4 levels over time in autoimmune thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s disease. ​

You can see that at times the TSH is incredibly high indicating a hypothyroid state, which then turns into a very suppressed TSH indicating a state of hyperthyroidism. 

​The symptoms between these states differ drastically. 

While the TSH is high patients may experience the symptoms listed above in addition to the hypothyroid symptoms below.

While the TSH is low patients may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

I’ve included a list of these types of symptoms as well to give you an idea ​of what type of symptoms you may be experiencing when hyperthyroid. 

Remember that this episodic pattern can be missed unless you happen to check the TSH at the time you are symptomatic. 

Hyperthyroid symptoms in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and high anti-TPO antibodies due to changes in the TSH:

• Hot flashes or episodes of heat intolerance
• Mood changes but typically more anxiety
• Jittery sensation or sensation of “too much energy”
• Fatigue or episodes of low-energy
• Difficulty sleeping or episodes of insomnia
• Facial flushing or sensation of hot extremities
• Heart palpitations or sensation of a racing pulse (usually episodic and short-lived)
• Weight loss and increased appetite

These alternating symptoms of generalized non-specific symptoms, combined with episodic symptoms of hyperthyroidism make the diagnosis difficult to manage. 

It’s important to realize that these types of symptoms do NOT occur in standard hypothyroid patients, making these symptoms important for both patient and physician to identify.

The presence of these symptoms should be a warning sign to look at antithyroid antibodies like anti-TPO. 

But these aren’t all the symptoms that patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may experience.

In addition, these patients may also develop symptoms of overt hypothyroidism (the more traditional symptoms).

This typically occurs once the inflammatory component has “died down” and gland damage has set in. ​

To give you an idea of what these symptoms look like I’ve also included the more common symptoms of hypothyroidism that may occur.  ​

Traditional symptoms of Hypothyroidism​: 

• Extreme fatigue and/or exhaustion(inability to do basic activities)
• Moderate weight gain of 20 to 30 pounds
• Overt hair loss, hair thinning, and hair breakage
• Changes to mood, predominately depression
• Menstrual irregularities and other conditions like PMS/PMDD
• Chronic and debilitating muscular/joint pain
• Chronic and daily constipation, development of other GI issues like gas/bloating, acid reflux, and low stomach acid
• + any of the other generalized symptoms listed above

​Note that the presence of these findings usually represents that the disease has been around for some time and may have progressed. 

​The important part is to identify the presence of these symptoms and then seek treatment which we will go over further below. 

• Bottom line: Symptoms of elevated anti-TPO antibodies may range from generalized and very non-specific, to episodic symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Over time these symptoms may progress to generalized hypothyroid symptoms as gland damage occurs. 

Anti-TPO antibody levels and ranges – what is considered normal? 

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by patients is something along the lines of this:

“Are my lab tests normal?”

Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty easy to determine if your labs are normal vs abnormal and I will walk you through it. 

The first thing you need to realize is that there is a big difference between “optimal” and “normal”. 

When you are evaluating your thyroid lab tests you want to look at the “optimal” lab values that I will be discussing. 

These values will most likely differ from the “normal” ranges that your general physician will use when determining if your lab tests are indeed normal. 

This results in much confusion among patients which leads them here to ask me if their tests are normal. 

They tend to get conflicting information so let’s set the record straight. 

First, let’s talk about your thyroid peroxidase antibody levels (AKA anti-TPO levels). 

The presence of these antibodies is not normal and indicates a problem. 

In some cases the presence and significance of anti-TPO antibodies (like in pregnancy (6)) are unclear, but one thing is for certain – it is not normal. 

In the example above the presence of anti-TPO antibodies indicated a higher risk of pregnancy complications and mental health issues later in life, but didn’t necessarily correlate with thyroid function. 

​As a rule of thumb, let this be your guide:

If you have the symptoms I have listed above plus you also have abnormal thyroid lab tests or elevated TPO antibodies then you definitely have abnormal thyroid lab tests.

Symptoms + anti-TPO antibodies = poor thyroid function

To give you an example of what your thyroid peroxidase antibody levels might look like I’ve included a lab result from a patient of mine: 

In this example, you can clearly see that the result is very abnormal. 

The result is 1317 with a standard reference range of less than 6. 

This is a classic example of a patient with elevated anti-TPO antibodies and a poorly functioning thyroid.

You can also see her corresponding TSH which is obviously abnormal as well.

In this example, a TSH of  7.024 and an anti-TPO level of 1317 confirm that her thyroid is indeed abnormal. 

Unfortunately, not all cases are as straightforward as this, which is why I will go over the other optimal thyroid lab studies below and help explain why you may have “normal” thyroid lab tests but still be symptomatic. 

• Bottom line: The presence of elevated anti-TPO antibodies is always a problem. In the presence of the symptoms listed above, it is an early sign of thyroid dysfunction and should be treated aggressively. 

Normal thyroid lab tests but still have hypothyroid symptoms?

This idea of “optimal” thyroid lab tests extends beyond just anti-TPO levels.

Unless you evaluate your thyroid lab tests entirely and with the “optimal” levels in mind, you will end up undertreated and may remain symptomatic.

Part of this problem is due to the reliance upon the TSH as the de facto lab test to determine thyroid function.

The current (and insufficient) treatment paradigm can be summed up in basically one sentence:

Give Levothyroxine or Synthroid to the patient and monitor the TSH to “normal” levels. 

It turns out that thyroid hormone management is not quite that simple and several studies have shown that treatment based on TSH ultimately leads to low levels of T3, reduced quality of life, and weight gain due to a slower metabolism (7).

When you look at all the data out there and our current treatment paradigm it’s easy to see why many hypothyroid patients go under-treated and misdiagnosed.

Because of these reasons, it’s very important to have a basic understanding of what defines “optimal” thyroid lab tests and use these values to determine the need for further management (and to determine if your tests are indeed “normal”). 

Complete thyroid lab panel + optimal ranges:

• TSH: Your TSH should be less than 2.0, healthy levels are generally below 1.0(this only applies if you aren’t on thyroid medication already)
• Free T3: Should be in the upper 50% of the reference range to be optimal (doesn’t apply if you are on thyroid medication)
• Free T4: Should be in the upper 50% of the reference range provided by the lab(doesn’t apply if you are on thyroid medication already)
• Reverse T3: Optimal levels should be as low as possible(applies on or off of thyroid medication)
• Anti-TPO antibodies: Optimal levels should be non-existent or as close to 0 as possible depending on reference ranges(applies on or off thyroid medication)
• Thyroglobulin antibodies: Optimal levels should be as close to 0 as possible(applies on or off thyroid medication)

​Part of the problem with diagnosing hypothyroidism is due to the body’s amazing ability to preserve serum thyroid levels under situations of extreme stress. 

In addition, when it comes to hormones and serum levels, very small changes in blood levels can mean drastic changes in terms of function which results in symptoms in patients. 

Combining these two ​factors it’s easy to see why reliance upon one test (generally the TSH) is a recipe for misdiagnosis when treating hypothyroid patients. 

​Here is an example of a set of lab tests that were considered “normal” but in reality are very suboptimal. 

This patient also presented with hypothyroid symptoms including weight gain, fatigue, a slow metabolism, and hair loss.

You can easily see that all of these thyroid lab values fall within the “normal” range, but when you compare her to the “optimal” levels provided above you get a completely different picture. 

Her Free T4 is low at ​1.28 and her reverse T3 is quite high at 18.8. 

This pattern is classic for what is known as low T3 syndrome or non-thyroidal illness and it is well recognized even by conventional medical sources (even though most endocrinologists and PCPs are not willing to treat it).

I’ve provided an image copy from emedicine.com which outlines the need to evaluate all of these lab tests and even shows that T3 levels can help in diagnosing certain patients with Hashimoto’s by identifying this pattern.

You can see the complete article here. ​

Unfortunately despite the fact that this condition is well recognized in patients with high levels of anti-TPO antibodies not much is done by physicians to treat it, and even fewer physicians are even willing to order the right tests. 

Because of this, it is very important to find physicians who are knowledgeable about these thyroid lab tests, willing to order them, and willing to treat them if present. 

I’ve written about the connection between low T3 and weight gain and how to properly address the condition previously. 

Other diseases associated with Autoimmune thyroiditis and elevated anti-TPO antibodies

Not only will high levels of anti-TPO antibodies damage your thyroid, but it also is important to identify because the presence of this autoimmune disease increases your risk of developing other autoimmune diseases.

Studies have shown that patients with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune thyroiditis conditions have a very large increase in developing other diseases like Celiac disease (8), type I diabetes mellitus, pernicious anemia, and even adrenal insufficiency.

For this reason, the early detection of thyroidal antibodies becomes very important.

Treating and reducing the immune and inflammatory components of this disease can help reduce the risk of developing these other autoimmune diseases.

The presence of TPO antibodies in your blood should prompt your physician to order other tests to evaluate your autoimmune status.

This is particularly important in the case of Celiac disease which is so often undiagnosed and underappreciated (much like thyroid disease!).

Below I’ve included an example of a patient of mine who had elevated anti-TPO antibodies on initial testing (along with other abnormal thyroid tests) and further evaluation of her antibodies to gluten revealed she also had antibodies to the gluten protein. 

You can see above the high titers to tissue transglutaminase (9) and gliadin antibody, both of which can be markers of the condition of Celiac disease. 

It’s always very important to identify gluten sensitivity in patients because the removal of gluten can be curative (10) in this autoimmune disease (which can’t necessarily be said for other autoimmune diseases). 

It’s also been shown that there is a strong connection between the GI tract, the immune system (11), and even the thyroid (12).

The presence of gluten in the diet sparks an inflammatory state (13) which may weaken the immune system and further reduce thyroid function (14).

Luckily, as long as it is identified, the removal of gluten is enough to drastically improve this process.

But this can give you an idea as to why it’s critical to order the right tests and get on the right treatment. ​

What causes anti-TPO levels to increase?

Now that you have an understanding of why your anti-TPO levels are important, we need to talk about what causes them to increase. 

This is an important step because, as you might recall from earlier in this post, the immune and inflammatory component is treatable.

So if we can target the cause of the increase in these antibodies we might be able to actually lower them and then improve your condition overall.

It turns out that the cause of elevated TPO antibodies in each person will likely be different and will require some degree of “digging”.

Having said that, there are definitely some factors that remain consistent in most patients with elevated TPO antibodies. ​

#1. Low vitamin D

The first is low levels of Vitamin D.

Studies have shown there is a link between low levels of vitamin D (15) and the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Recall that Hashimoto’s is a form of autoimmune thyroiditis and elevated anti-TPO antibodies indicate this condition is present.

These studies show that the lower the Vitamin D is the longer and worse the symptoms of Hashimoto’s become, the worse thyroid function becomes and the higher antibodies rise.

his likely has to do with the effects that Vitamin D has on the immune system (16).

Autoimmune conditions represent a problem in the way that your immune system understands what is “good” and what is “bad”. 

When this system is off balance your body may create antibodies against its own tissue which results in various symptoms.

Increasing Vitamin D may be one of many ways to increase thyroid function and reduce both the autoimmunity and inflammation in autoimmune thyroiditis. 

#2. Increased intestinal permeability

As I mentioned previously the gut has a strong influence on your immune system. 

When diseases cause intestinal issues or inflammation it disrupts the tight junctions in the GI tract which are supposed to shield your body from breakdown products from food, bacteria, etc.

Poor diet, high stress, and nutrient deficiencies can weaken this protective membrane in the GI tract and lead to a condition known as increased intestinal permeability (17).

Increased intestinal permeability leads absorption of food products, bacteria, etc. that shouldn’t be absorbed into the bloodstream. 

You can see an example of what I am talking about in the image below: ​

This image depicts what should be happening to a healthy intestinal membrane that blocks the absorption of everything but nutrients. 

When this membrane is damaged you can see particles passing through the membrane and triggering disease states.

This whole process and condition are what is known as “leaky gut”.

Once the abnormal particles are absorbed they can trigger autoimmune conditions through a process called molecular mimicry (18).

​What happens is that some of these food particles look very similar to parts of your body. 

Your immune system creates antibodies to these particles which then cross-react with some of your own tissues leading to autoimmune disease.

This effect is frequent enough that it may be the underlying cause (19) in MANY cases of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune thyroiditis. 

​What you need to understand is that various factors influence this protective barrier. 

High levels of stress, a diet high in processed foods, gluten sensitivity, and a lack of nutrients have all been shown to reduce the effectiveness of this barrier which may trigger high anti-TPO levels. 

#3. Inflammation (especially gut inflammation)

Generalized inflammation is bad for many reasons, but in this section, I want to focus on GI inflammation.

​You already know and understand the important role that the GI tract plays in immunity, but what you may not know is its role in thyroid function in general. 

​Inflammation in the gut leads to reduced T4 to T3 conversion, and reduced absorption of nutrients, and may predispose to conditions that can then trigger increased intestinal permeability (AKA leaky gut). 

For these reasons, it’s important to identify and treat any GI-related problems that may be present in your body.

If you have any of the following symptoms you may be predisposed to develop autoimmune thyroiditis and high antibody levels: 

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Acid reflux
• Low stomach acid
• SIBO/SIFO, or gas/bloating
• Functional abdominal pain
• Intestinal dysbiosis

Basically, if you are not having bowel movements regularly and if you have any of the symptoms or conditions listed above then you may be at risk. 

​Treating and reducing these inflammatory conditions will be necessary to reduce your risk and treat your antibody levels. 

#4. Poor diet

​Diet has been shown to influence both the immune system and inflammatory levels. 

Diets high in processed foods (and industrial seed oils) have been shown to directly alter your immune system and predispose certain patients to develop autoimmune diseases (20). 

In certain individuals (those with certain genetics) changes in diet can actually trigger autoimmunity all by itself. 

Environmental factors like stress, poor, diet, and nutrient deficiencies can actually alter your genes and shift the immune balance toward autoimmunity (21).

#5. High stress

Stress plays a huge role in the development of autoimmune diseases. ​

It’s been shown that up to 80% of patients report high levels of emotional stress prior to the onset of autoimmune disease (22) (all types but especially Hashimoto’s). 

This is also confirmed in my own personal patient base in which I have seen the same thing. 

For most cases of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune thyroiditis, there is a triggering event related to a stressful situation. 

This stress can be emotional, physical, traumatic, etc.

The death of a loved one, a particularly difficult breakup or divorce, pregnancy, a medical illness in loved ones, etc. may all qualify as triggering events.

It’s important to realize that stress likely influences other factors that predispose the body to develop autoimmune disease, so mitigating stress levels is critical to lowering antibody levels. 

Treatment options for patients with high anti-TPO levels

So what are you supposed to do if you have high anti-TPO antibody levels?

It turns out that there are several things you can do to lower these antibody levels.

The treatment is especially important ​because your physician may take the “wait and see” approach to treatment. 

Basically, many doctors may not even try to treat your antibody levels until they have caused glandular damage and thyroid hormone replacement is required.

Luckily there are several therapies that you can do (some on your own) to help reduce inflammation and ​autoimmunity. 

Note: for best results, it’s wise to use a combination of these therapies and stack them together. If you take just 1-2 supplements, for instance, you will be limiting your progress. 

​#1. Supplements

We’ve already discussed how certain nutrient deficiencies (low levels of vitamin​ D) can predispose to developing autoimmune diseases.

This should give you an idea of the importance of nutrients and supplements in treating these conditions.

Now we need to discuss how certain nutrients can reduce inflammation and have even been shown to lower TPO antibody levels. ​

Supplements to reduce inflammation and autoimmunity:

• Zinc: Zinc has been shown to reduce inflammation, boost T4 to T3 conversion (23), and act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body. Couple this with the fact that many patients are zinc deficient and zinc supplementation becomes a no-brainer for hypothyroid patients. Use Zinc in combination with Selenium. 
• Selenium: Selenium also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and can boost T4 to T3 conversion. In addition, it has also been shown to reduce TPO antibodies in some patients with Hashimoto’s (24). The combination of zinc + selenium is particularly potent and I generally recommend using both simultaneously. Make sure that you use 50-150mcg of selenium each day and avoid using doses in excess of 400mcg per day to prevent toxicity. 
• High-quality multi-strain and multispecies probiotics: Probiotics can help reduce inflammation in the GI tract and help repopulate the GI tract with anti-inflammatory bacteria to help promote T4 to T3 conversion. Probiotics should be considered standard therapy in patients with high TPO antibodies. Use probiotics daily (both with meals and in between meals) for 6 months for best results. 
• Vitamin D3: Replacing low Vitamin D levels can help promote immunity. But make sure not to take Vitamin D3 without vitamin K2. The balance between these two fat-soluble vitamins is necessary for the best results. Aim for a Vitamin D level in the mid-range and supplement as necessary (usually 2,000-5,000 IU per day). 

Supplements to improve thyroid function: ​

• Liquid Iron: Iron is required for proper thyroid hormone function and low levels should be replaced to achieve optimal levels. High iron levels can cause problems, however, so read this guide to determine if your iron levels are “optimal”. 
• Magnesium glycinate: Studies show that the hypothyroid state causes your kidneys to excrete more magnesium which makes many hypothyroid patients magnesium deficient. Replacing magnesium levels can help improve thyroid function, improve your mood, reduce muscle/cramps, and increase energy levels. 
• Iodine: Iodine is required for proper thyroid hormone production. Using the combination of iodine plus selenium can help improve thyroid hormone production and may help reduce the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Make sure to start out with a low dose and combine it with selenium. Some patients may react negatively to iodine so monitor your symptoms closely. 

You can also check out a more detailed guide on which supplements to take if you are hypothyroid here and which supplements to take if you have Hashimoto’s here. 

#2. Medications

In addition to using supplements, there are some medications that can be used to help reduce inflammation. 

The medication I am referring to here is known as low-dose naltrexone.

I’ve already discussed how LDN can help with weight loss in the past, but here I want to focus on its ability to reduce inflammation. ​

Through largely unknown mechanisms, LDN has been shown to reduce inflammatory states (25) and can be used as a novel anti-inflammatory medication. 

Some studies have shown that LDN may result in the remission of some autoimmune diseases (26). 

​It should be pointed out that LDN does not work for every person. 

For this reason, it’s helpful to at least consider a trial of the medication, especially in patients who have multiple autoimmune conditions, weight loss resistance, and/or elevated anti-TPO antibodies.

In my experience, roughly 30-50% of patients obtain significant benefits from using LDN. 

Fortunately, even for those who use it and don’t get any noticeable benefit at least, there is no harm in using the medication. 

I’ve successfully used LDN in the past in patients with weight loss resistance and Hashimoto’s, you can read case studies here. 

#3. Hormones

Believe it or not, certain hormones in your body are necessary for proper immune function.

The hormones I want to focus on today are the androgens.

As you may know, women tend to get autoimmune diseases more frequently than men do.

Part of the reason for this discrepancy between the sexes is felt to be due to testosterone levels in women vs men.

Higher testosterone levels have been felt to be somewhat protective against the development of autoimmune diseases.

In addition, studies have shown that testosterone replacement (27) therapy has a positive effect on several autoimmune diseases (28).

What is interesting from my point of view is that almost every patient I treat who has high thyroid peroxidase antibodies also has a corresponding low testosterone level.

Some of this may be due to thyroid hormone and its effects on testosterone levels, but I have also noted improvement in autoimmune diseases with testosterone replacement.

If you have a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis it’s important to get the following labs tested (and again make sure that you are evaluated with the “optimal” ranges in mind): 

• Free and total Testosterone: If your levels fall within the bottom 50th percentile of the reference range then you might consider testosterone replacement therapy. You can read more about how to use testosterone cream here, you can also find symptoms of low testosterone in this post as well. 
• DHEA (29): DHEA is a precursor hormone to testosterone and estrogen, but still classifies as an androgen in the body. DHEA is also involved with the immune system and low DHEA levels may predispose certain patients to develop autoimmune diseases. Unlike testosterone, DHEA is available over the counter and can be supplemented. Be careful when supplementing with DHEA, though, as it can potentially turn into estrogen metabolites. Start with 25mg every other 1-2 days as tolerated (make sure it comes in the micronized form to promote absorption). 

#4. Diet​

We’ve already discussed the importance of diet and how it impacts inflammatory levels and the immune system.

In this section, I just want to provide you with several diets that you should consider if you have elevated TPO levels.

​Changing your diet should really be one of the first steps you take. 

Changing your diet is something that you are in control of and it can have a huge impact on your status overall.

Other factors are not in your control: what thyroid medication you take, your dose, etc.

Because of this, it’s important to take advantage of the variables that you can.

With that in mind, I’ve provided 3 diets that I have used successfully in my clinic: ​

• Gluten-free + dairy-free: We’ve already discussed how gluten can impact immunity and removing gluten (even if you are gluten antibody-negative) has the potential to help you considerably. Dairy is removed because many people cross-react to both gluten and dairy. 
• Paleo diet: The paleo diet is a great starting point as well. There are many guides and recipes online that can help get you started. The only potential issue with the paleo diet is the relatively limited amount of carbs that it allows. Some alterations to your carbohydrate intake may be necessary if you start on the paleo diet. 
• Autoimmune protocol: The AIP diet is a more restrictive form of the paleo diet and removes other food groups like nightshades. Because this diet is more restrictive than the others I generally don’t recommend patients start here unless they have multiple autoimmune diseases. 

You can read more about how to pick the best diet for you if you have Hashimoto’s in this detailed post. 

#5. Avoid endocrine disruptors​

Endocrine disruptors refer to various chemical compounds that get absorbed into your body and may interact with hormone functions. 

Unfortunately, endocrine disruptors are very common nowadays and are found in various forms of plastics, containers, and even on receipts. 

These chemicals can be absorbed through your skin, get into your bloodstream, and impact thyroid function.

Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) have been shown to lower free T3 levels without having an impact on TSH (30).

The effects of these chemicals are often missed unless the T3 is actually tested. ​

Actively avoiding these chemicals is necessary if you want to improve your thyroid function.

Fortunately, several steps can be taken to dramatically reduce the impact of these chemicals:

• Drink out of glass containers(avoid plastic containers)
• Drink filtered water only
• Stop touching receipts(have the cashier place them in the bag) 
• Avoid hand-me-down plastic toys
• Eat organic foods and grass-fed meats
• Check your cosmetics for added chemicals (putting EDCs on your face is a good way to rapidly absorb these harmful chemicals)

​Following these simple steps is an easy way to avoid these chemicals. 

For some patients, it may be necessary to detox these chemicals more actively because they can be stored in the fat (we will discuss this concept in another post).

​Recap & Final Thoughts

The presence of anti-TPO antibodies is never a normal sign. 

The presence of these antibodies combined with hypothyroid symptoms may indicate autoimmune thyroiditis.

If you are experiencing hypothyroid-like symptoms then you should have a complete thyroid lab panel checked which includes antithyroid antibodies. 

Due to the various issues with diagnosing and managing thyroid abnormalities, it will be important for you to have a basic understanding of how to diagnose and manage your condition. 

Because autoimmune thyroiditis indicates both an inflammatory and autoimmune condition, it is treated differently from hypothyroidism.

For best results, patients should focus on a combination of supplements, diet, stress reduction, and hormone replacement to reduce this inflammatory state. 

Doing this early may help to preserve thyroid function long term.

Now it’s your turn:

Are your TPO antibodies elevated?

Are experiencing any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?

Leave your comments below! ​