Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Share By
Association Between the Novel Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota, Biomarkers of Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis and Metabolic Parameters Among Women of Reproductive Age Publisher Pubmed



Elsehrawy AAMA ; Khalel MS ; Elbaz A ; Maashi MS ; Hjazi A ; Rizaev J ; Alkhafaji ZA ; Jabir MS ; Kandil IAAA ; Gandomkar H
Authors

Source: BMC Endocrine Disorders Published:2026


Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota in autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Diet is a key modulator of gut microbial composition. This study investigated the association between a novel Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DIGM) and thyroid-related biomarkers among women with HT. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 162 women with clinically confirmed HT were enrolled. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The DIGM score was constructed based on intake of foods known to influence gut microbial health, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to a microbiota-supportive diet. Anthropometric parameters and serum levels of thyroid hormones, thyroid autoantibodies, lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Participants were categorized into tertiles based on DIGM score, and comparisons across groups were made using ANOVA and general linear models, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Participants in the highest DIGM tertile had significantly lower serum anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibody levels (P < 0.05), lower triglyceride concentrations (p = 0.017), and reduced waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.030) compared to those in the lowest tertile. No significant differences were observed in TSH, T3, T4, anti-Tg, TAC, or MDA levels across DIGM categories. Conclusion: Higher adherence to a microbiota-supportive dietary pattern, as reflected by the DIGM score, was associated with favorable immune and metabolic profiles in women with HT. Due to the cross-sectional design of the study, causal relationships cannot be inferred. Further longitudinal or intervention studies are needed to elucidate causality and to suggest dietary modulation of gut microbiota as a non-pharmacological approach to support management of autoimmune thyroid disease. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. © The Author(s) 2025.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Gut Microbiota Alterations in Hypothyroidism: A Pilot Study Revealing Increased Abundance of Specific Bacterial Genera, Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (2026)
2. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean Dietary Pattern, and Diabetic Nephropathy in Women With Type 2 Diabetes: A Case-Control Study, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN (2019)
3. The Associations Between Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN (2020)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Ahmad Esmaillzadeh (5)
Leila Azadbakht (5)
Other Related Docs
4. Effects of Dietary Whole Grain, Fruit, and Vegetables on Weight and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Overweight and Obese Women, Eating and Weight Disorders (2020)
5. Association of a Pro-Inflammatory Diet With Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension: Results From the Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases Cohort Study, Archives of Public Health (2022)
6. Effectiveness of a Novel Diet in Attenuation of Clinical Activity of Disease in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized, Clinical Trial, Scientific Reports (2024)
7. Does the Mediterranean Diet Reduce the Odds of Diabetic Nephropathy in Women? a Case–Control Study, Frontiers in Nutrition (2022)
8. Interaction Between Cetp Taq1b Polymorphism and Hei, Dqi and Dpi on Metabolic Biomarkers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2022)
9. Adherence to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (Dash) and Mediterranean Dietary Patterns in Relation to Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Adults, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN (2020)
10. Association Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Common Mental Health Disorders Profile Scores, Clinical Nutrition (2019)
11. Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Odds of Lung Cancer: A Large Case-Control Study, BMC Cancer (2024)
12. Association of Major Dietary Patterns With Advanced Glycation End Products and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in People With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Nutrition Journal (2023)
13. Do Patterns of Nutrient Intake Predict Self-Reported Anxiety, Depression and Psychological Distress in Adults? Sepahan Study, Clinical Nutrition (2019)
14. Association of Adherence to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension Diet and Diet Quality Indices Among Women in Tehran: A Cross-Sectional Study, Health Promotion Perspectives (2019)
15. Associations of Major Dietary Patterns With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Iranian Patients With Type 1 Diabetes, Preventive Medicine Reports (2024)
16. Effect of Probiotics Supplementation on Glucose and Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials, DARU# Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2019)
17. Dietary Diversity As a Proxy Measure of Blood Antioxidant Status in Women, Nutrition (2015)
18. Dietary Glycaemic Index and Insulin Index in Association With Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, British Journal of Nutrition (2025)
19. Association Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Renal Function Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Diabetic Patients With Nephropathy, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN (2020)
20. The Interaction Between Dietary Nitrates/Nitrites Intake and Gut Microbial Metabolites on Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study, Frontiers in Public Health (2024)