Effects of Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet on changes in thyroid parameters in Hashimoto's disease

Abstract

Introduction and objective: In the scientific world, the nutritional needs of persons with Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroid disease are discussed, and there is a lot of interest in the autoimmune protocol (AIP). The aim of the study was to check the effects of AIP on thyroid parameters in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's disease.

Material and methods: Among 28 people with Hashimoto's (including 1 male) the consumption of nutrients, anthropometrics, symptoms of the disease, values of thyroid parameters: FT3, FT4, TSH, thyroid ultrasound and autoimmune aTPO, aTG were analyzed before and after 12 weeks of using the AIP diet. The impact of changes in the consumption of selected nutrients on changes in thyroid biochemical parameters were analyzed using multiple regression models, where the dependent variables of the created models were changes in thyroid biochemical parameters.

Results: After applying the AIP diet, the number of people reporting symptoms of malaise decreased, the levels of FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH decreased, remaining within the reference concentration range. aTG decreased slightly, but aTPO increased significantly. Ultrasound examination also showed a decrease in the volume of the thyroid gland. The body weight of the subjects decreased, which indicates a caloric deficit.

Conclusions: Given the numerous advantages of the AIP diet, extending the observation time of the diet, along with its personalization in terms of food selection, energy and nutritional value, could show changes in both well-being and biochemical test results to a greater extent. The use of a personalized AIP protocol can improve the quality of life, a positive change in mental state, reduction of stress, and above all, the improvement of adverse ailments associated with Hashimoto's disease.

Keywords: Autoimmune Protocol; Hashimoto’s disease; nutrients intake; thyroid parameters.