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The effect of vitamin D on thyroid autoimmunity in non-lactating women with postpartum thyroiditis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 637–639 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The study included 38 non-lactating l-thyroxine-treated women with postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) and 21 matched healthy postpartum women. Women with vitamin D deficiency were treated with oral vitamin D (4000 IU daily), whereas women with vitamin D insufficiency and women with normal 25-hydroxy vitamin levels were either treated with vitamin D (2000 IU daily) or left untreated. Serum hormone levels and thyroid antibody titers were measured at the beginning of the study and 3 months later. 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were lower in women with PPT than in healthy women. Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibody titers inversely correlated with vitamin D status. Apart from increasing serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and decreasing serum levels of parathyroid hormone, vitamin D reduced titers of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and this effect was stronger in women with vitamin D deficiency. The study’s results suggest that vitamin D supplementation may bring benefits to l-thyroxine-treated women with PPT.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grant nos NN-1-070/06 and NN-1-038/10 of the Medical University of Silesia. The experiments comply with the current law of Poland.

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

    R Krysiak, K Kowalcze & B Okopien

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  1. R Krysiak
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  2. K Kowalcze
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  3. B Okopien
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Correspondence to R Krysiak.

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Krysiak, R., Kowalcze, K. & Okopien, B. The effect of vitamin D on thyroid autoimmunity in non-lactating women with postpartum thyroiditis. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 637–639 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.214

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