We are currently investigating the low thyroid and candida relationships connecting bypolar disorder and celiac disease. Please take a moment to give us your input on the right under Polls.
Here are some of our findings thus far:
There is a clear connection between the process of thyroid hormone regulation and bipolar disorder. The problem is, this connection is only just now beginning to become evident, and how the connection works is basically a mystery. Two studies recently showed a strikingly high rate of autoimmune-caused thyroid problems in people with bipolar disorder, far more than you would expect to find.Vonk, Kupka Thyroid problems are more common in the complex forms of bipolar disorder (mixed states and rapid cycling) than in classic bipolar manic patients.Chang Signs of thyroid auto-immunity are much more common in people with anxiety and depression, particularly the forms of anxiety which don’t easily fit into typical “anxiety disorder” labels.Carta
Two studies have shown that people with low thyroid levels were less likely to get better when treated for their bipolar depression, whereas the ones with higher levels responded pretty well.Cole, Frye . The same phenomenon was recently shown even in “unipolar” depression.Gitlin. These three studies are the basis for a treatment approach you could consider, particularly if depression is your main problem: gently pushing your thyroid status over toward the “hyperthyroid” end of normal, if you happen now to be toward the hypothyroid end of normal (the lab testing we use to place you on this spectrum is explained below). This approach has not been tested — at all. There are only these three studies to suggest that it might help.
Poor intestinal flora can contribute to depression by altering the immune system. Let’s examine this relationship a bit closer. Cytokines are produced by our immune system. In depression, there is an increase in inflammatory cytokines called IL-1, IL-6, and TNF. These same cytokines can be increased by exposure to the LPS in the cell wall of gram-negative intestinal bacteria. By increasing these cytokines, intestinal bacteria have been shown to induce depression, anxiety and cognition impairment.
Antidepressants modify the brain’s response to cytokines. In fact, this might be one of the ways that these drugs work to relieve depression. The same inflammatory cytokines that are associated with depression can activate the hypothalmic-pituitary-axis (HPA). An activated HPA is also associated with depression. These same inflammatory cytokines can also cause central hypothyroidism. There is some indication that central hypothyroidism is present in depression. However, this type of central hypothyroidism is not easily found by the usual tests. If central hypothyroidism exists, it is important to treat it. Without treatment, there is less chance that anti-depressants will work.
Central hypothyroidism means that there is not enough thyroid hormones circulating in the body because the brain is not regulating them properly. Doctors often employ a TSH test to screen for thyroid problems. TSH is a chemical produced in the brain that tells your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. If TSH is high, it usually means that your thyroid is having trouble meeting the demands of the body and that you need a supplement of thyroid hormones. However, TSH is suppressed in central hypothyroidism. The brain isn’t making enough of it in response to the body’s need for thyroid. Therefore TSH won’t register high even though the body needs more thyroid hormone.
Celiac disease, triggered by gluten proteins from wheat in susceptible people, can damage the central nervous system. The cell walls of Candida, the yeast responsible for oral thrush, vaginal infections and intestinal Candidiasis, contain the same protein sequence as wheat gluten and may trigger or stimulate Celiac Disease.
Our understanding of celiac disease has come a long way in the last few years. Several recent studies have linked celiac disease to central nervous system damage which may cause sporadic ataxia. Other studies have identified the particular protein sequence in gluten which causes celiac disease. Other researchers have identified a similar protein in candida yeast and suggest that it may also trigger the same disease. These studies suggest that the typical digestive symptoms we associate with celiac disease are present less than 20% of the time. Having “normal” digestion no longer rules out the disease.
For the last ten years we have known that celiac disease is associated with hypothyroid disease, specifically Hashimoto’s Disease. About 10- 14% of celiac patients are hypothyroid. Celiac patients are about ten times as likely to have thyroid nodules. [5,6,7] Is it the same genetic predisposition making people overly prone to develop autoimmune diseases that causes both conditions? Or is it the chronic bowel inflammation that stimulates these autoimmune reactions? At this point it isn’t clear.
SOURCES:
http://www.psycheducation.org/thyroid/introduction.htm
http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/news/celiac.html Celiac Disease, Gluten Ataxia and Candidiasis
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/candidayeast.htm
I am gluten intolerant .. I am interested on how the CNS is affected also and what are the differences (if any) between celiac disease and intolerance to gluten and bipolar?
A heavy article but a good read. I’m particularly interested in the comments you make concerning Celiacs and the impact of Gluten. When you comment on the likelihood of complications is this in Celiacs who manage to live gluten free or in those who are gluten intollerant but still consume?