Dietary Factors Associated with Plasma Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies

Nutrients. 2017 Oct 28;9(11):1186. doi: 10.3390/nu9111186.

Abstract

The knowledge about dietary habits and their influence in the development of autoimmune thyroid disease is insufficient. The aim of this study was to analyse the association of dietary factors and plasma thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) and/or thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab). The study enrolled 1887 participants originating from the South Croatia. Participants with elevated plasma TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab were defined as cases (n = 462) and those with TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab within referent values were defined as controls (n = 1425). Dietary intake was evaluated according to a food frequency questionnaire containing 58 food items. Principal component analysis was used to group food items into dietary groups. We used logistic regression analysis to examine dietary groups associated with positive plasma TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab. The results indicate that the dietary group with frequent consumption of animal fats and butter is associated with positive plasma TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab (p = 0.01). The dietary group with frequent consumption of vegetables as well as the dietary group with high consumption of dried fruit, nuts, and muesli are associated with negative findings of TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab (p = 0.048 and p = 0.02, respectively). We showed that the anti-inflammatory dietary groups are associated with the negative findings of plasma TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab.

Keywords: autoimmune thyroid diseases; dietary habits; thyroglobulin antibodies; thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantigens / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Croatia
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodide Peroxidase / immunology*
  • Iron-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Protective Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Thyroglobulin / immunology*
  • Thyroid Diseases / blood*
  • Thyroid Diseases / immunology
  • Thyroid Diseases / prevention & control
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Biomarkers
  • Iron-Binding Proteins
  • anti-thyroglobulin
  • thyroid microsomal antibodies
  • Thyroglobulin
  • TPO protein, human
  • Iodide Peroxidase