Exploring the Connection: Vitamin D Deficiency and Thyroid Disease

This report delves into the intricate relationship between vitamin D and hypothyroidism, drawing upon a comprehensive literature review of relevant research articles. The report highlights the association between vitamin D inadequacy and autoimmune diseases, emphasizing vitamin D's role in regulating the immune system and maintaining balance. It explores experimental studies demonstrating the impact of vitamin D deficiency on thyroid hormone levels, and genetic studies revealing the connection between vitamin D receptor genes and autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease. The report analyzes findings from various researchers, including Mackawy et al. and Singh et al., who examined the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism, and the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of advocating for vitamin D supplementation in patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism, based on the evidence presented.

Running Head: NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Nutrition and dietetics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
The assignment deals with the discussion on the topic “vitamin D and hypothyroidism”
supporting with the different relevant research articles.
As per the literature review, vitamin D inadequacy is associated with autoimmune
disease. This vitamin plays a key role in maintaining the balance between cell mediated (Th1)
and the humoral (Th2) immune system by regulating the Th3 cells. In an experimental study,
vitamin D deficiency resulted in low thyroid hormones. It means the vitamin has direct impact on
the thyroid gland1. According to the genetic studies both the thyroid hormone and the vitamin D
bind to the same steroid hormone receptors. This results in the autoimmune diseases, where a
different gene in Vitamin D receptor has been found to predispose patients to Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. Grave’s disease is associated with the polymorphism in the
vitamin D gene. Its deficiency directly modulates the Graves’ hyperthyroidism which may have
been induced by the thyrotropin receptor immunization in a mice model. In the human mole it
was found that the inflammatory responses in T cells and human thyroid cells was inhibited by
the Vitamin D analog2.
Many researchers studied the impact of the vitamin D on the thyroid physiology. It was
found that the autoimmune thyroid disease is linked to vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin is
found to benefit the autoimmune-mediated thyroid dysfunction. The vitamin is found with little
1
Musa, I. R., Gasim, G. I., Khan, S., Ibrahim, I. A., Abo-alazm, H., & Adam, I. (2017). No Association between 25
(OH) Vitamin D Level And Hypothyroidism among Females. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017 Apr 15; 5 (2):
126-130.
2 Musa, I. R., Gasim, G. I., Khan, S., Ibrahim, I. A., Abo-alazm, H., & Adam, I. (2017). No Association between 25
(OH) Vitamin D Level And Hypothyroidism among Females. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017 Apr 15; 5 (2):
126-130.

2NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
role in the regulation of insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Vitamin D is also associated
with the balancing of blood sugar. Thyroid physiology is adversely effected with the
dysglyemcia and insulin resistance3.
Mackawy et al, examined the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and
hypothyroidism. The study results showed that the patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism were
found to have vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcaemia. These deficiencies were in turn
associated with the severity and degree of hypothyroidism. In short, these results showed the
linkage of hypothyroidism in patients with calcium and vitamin D levels. When compared to the
controls the serum levels of both the elements were found to lower in hypothyroid patients that
signifies a positive association between hypothyroidism and vitamin D as well as calcium.
However, there was a negative correlation of these factors with the TSH levels4.
Singh et al., in similar study emphasised on the imunomodulatory role of the vitamin D
on the endocrine system. In this study 40 healthy people and 40 hypothyroidism patients were
recruited for measuring the Serum vitamin D (25-OH) levels and Thyroid hormones (TSH, T3
and T4) levels. The results using the ELISA and spectophotometric method, it was found that the
level of each of them was significantly lower in the hypothyroid patients when compared to the
healthy subjects. There was difference of these levels between males and females with later
showing lower levels of these factors. These results indicated that the hypothyroid patients
suffered from the hypovitaminosis D. The hypovitaminosis D iss significantly associated with
3 Talaei, Afsaneh, et al. "The Study the Effect of Vitamin D on Hypothyroidism." ISMJ 20.3 (2017): 301-307.
4 Mackawy, Amal Mohammed Husein, Bushra Mohammed Al-Ayed, and Bashayer Mater Al-Rashidi. "Vitamin d
deficiency and its association with thyroid disease." International journal of health sciences 7.3 (2013): 267.

3NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
degree and severity of the hypothyroidism5. Hypothyroid patients with vitamin D showed
improvement in the condition by taking Vitamin D as it caused TSH suppression6.
In conclusion, the literature review indicates the association between vitamin D
deficiency and hyperthyroidism. As per these findings, the patients with hypothyroidism should
be advocated for vitamin D supplementation.
5 Singh, Vivek, Sunita Singh, and Yogesh Kumar Rai. "Vitamin D Induced Hypothyroidism." Indian Journal of
Public Health Research & Development 7.3 (2016).
6 Talaei, Afsaneh, et al. "The Study the Effect of Vitamin D on Hypothyroidism." ISMJ 20.3 (2017): 301-307.

4NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Bibliography
Mackawy, Amal Mohammed Husein, Bushra Mohammed Al-Ayed, and Bashayer Mater Al-
Rashidi. "Vitamin d deficiency and its association with thyroid disease." International journal of
health sciences 7.3 (2013): 267.
Musa, I. R., Gasim, G. I., Khan, S., Ibrahim, I. A., Abo-alazm, H., & Adam, I. (2017). No
Association between 25 (OH) Vitamin D Level And Hypothyroidism among Females. Open
Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017 Apr 15; 5 (2): 126-130.
Singh, Vivek, Sunita Singh, and Yogesh Kumar Rai. "Vitamin D Induced
Hypothyroidism." Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development 7.3 (2016).
Talaei, Afsaneh, et al. "The Study the Effect of Vitamin D on Hypothyroidism." ISMJ 20.3
(2017): 301-307.
Yasuda, Tetsuyuki, et al. "Serum vitamin D levels are decreased and associated with thyroid
volume in female patients with newly onset Graves’ disease." Endocrine 42.3 (2012): 739-741.