Abstract
There is not any diet recommended for Hashimoto’s disease, despite that those patients are often undernourished. Because of the high heterogeneity of Hashimoto’s patients, insight into dietary patterns might shed some light on the patient-tailored dietary approach, thus improving their treatment and helping to identify patients with the highest probability of particular nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to identify Hashimoto’s patients’ dietary patterns and their characterization based on both socio-demographic variables and dietary self-assessment. We collected data online from patients with Hashimoto’s disease. The questionnaire formula used in the study was developed based on a validated food frequency questionnaire KomPAN®. K-means pattern analyses were used to characterize patients into patterns based on the frequency of particular types of foods consumption and socio-demographic factors. Four patterns were identified. We labeled them as ‘Convenient’, ‘Non-meat’, ‘Pro-healthy’, and ‘Carnivores’ with participants proportions at approximately one-fourth per each pattern. The patients were mainly of the female gender (94.08%), with a female: male ratio of 15.9. Hashimoto’s patients differed in their food product choices, food choice motives, dieting experience, nutritional knowledge, smoking habits, food allergies and intolerances, and lipid disorders, and thus represent different eating patterns. However, these patterns were not determined by comorbidities or the majority of ailments.
Highlights
Hashimoto’s disease (HT) is one of the most prevalent autoimmune endocrine disorders, causing thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.A meta-analysis published in 2014 showed that the mean prevalence of undiagnosed hypothyroidism in Europe was 4.94% (4.75–5.13%), the mean prevalence of hypothyroidism was 3.05% (3.01–3.09%), and the incidence rate was 226.2 (222.26–230.17) per 100.000 per year [1]
In our daily clinical practice, we see that hypothyroidism is treated mainly by endocrinologists pharmacologically through providing thyroid hormones; nutritional intervention may differ from one specialist to another based on their knowledge [19]
We found that dietary patterns detected in our study were similar to those found by other authors; they were not equal [7,11]
Summary
Hashimoto’s disease (HT) is one of the most prevalent autoimmune endocrine disorders, causing thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. A meta-analysis published in 2014 showed that the mean prevalence of undiagnosed hypothyroidism in Europe was 4.94% (4.75–5.13%), the mean prevalence of hypothyroidism was 3.05% (3.01–3.09%), and the incidence rate was 226.2 (222.26–230.17) per 100.000 per year [1] Another meta-analysis published in 2019, which included more data, showed the prevalence of undiagnosed overt and subclinical hypothyroidism in Europe was on a mean. Another study does not support a hypothesis of the growing incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and hypothyroidism in Poland. From 2006 to 2013 (8 years), diagnoses of AT and hypothyroidism dropped from 10.4% to 4.8% and from 17.8% to 7.7%, respectively [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
