Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome is the complex community of trillions of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Diverse, plant-rich diets generally promote a healthy microbiome; highly processed foods impair diversity.
Relationship to Thyroid Disease
Emerging research links the gut microbiome to autoimmune thyroid conditions, particularly graves-disease:
- Mouse models of graves-disease/Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) demonstrated that gut bacteria directly influence disease symptoms.
- Antibiotic treatment improved disease; faecal transplants from Graves’/GO patients worsened it in mice.
- Gut microbiome diversity is reduced in GD/GO patients, though the specific changes vary widely by geographic region (reflecting diet and lifestyle differences).
Current status: Too early to recommend specific antibiotics, prebiotics, or probiotics for thyroid conditions. Research is ongoing.
Supporting a Healthy Microbiome
An anti-inflammatory-diet with varied plant foods supports microbiome diversity.