Correlation of Stool Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Leaky Gut Syndrome in Patients with Hashimoto Thyroditis

Abstract

ashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune disease worldwide, characterized by chronic inflammation and circulating autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. Patients require hormone replacement with oral levothyroxine, and if untreated, they can develop serious adverse health effects and ultimately death. There is a lot of evidence that the intestinal dysbiosis, bacterial overgrowth, and increased intestinal permeability favor the HT development, and a thyroid–gut axis has been proposed, which seems to impact our entire metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of stool lactobacillus acidophilus and leaky gut syndrome in patients with hashimoto thyroiditis. This was a case control study that was conducted on 60 Egyptian subjects that was divided into 2 groups, Group 1 that included 30 patients with Hashimoto s thyroiditis first diagnosed or on therapy and Group 2 that included 30 healthy subjects as a control, it was conducted at Ain Shams University hospital outpatient Endocrinology Clinic throughout 6 months. All patients were subjected to: Detailed history, full clinical examination ,thyroid antibodies (Anti-TPO), thyroid profile (TSH, FT4, FT3), PCR for lactobacillus acidophilus in stool and zonulin level in serum (marker for leaky gut).