THE INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTICS AS AN IMMUNOMODULATORY THERAPY ON AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASES

Description:
Presented in: 15th World Probiotics and Gut Health Conference
Date: December 17-19, 2025
Venue: Novotel Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
Name: Dr. Federica Riccobene

F. Riccobene¹ and L. C. Nitoi², ¹ Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați. Str. Alexandru Ioan Cuza nr. 35, 800010 Galați, Romania ² Medical Clinical Department, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, Str. Domnească 47, 800008 Galați, Romania.

Introduction:
Autoimmune thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD), are chronic inflammatory disorders characterized by abnormal immune activation against the thyroid [1][2]. Their pathogenesis involves genetic, immunological and environmental factors [1][3][4], with the intestinal microbiota playing a key role. Dysbiosis may promote autoimmunity [5][6][7], while probiotics, by restoring gut flora balance and favorably influencing the balance between pro-inflammatory and regulatory lymphocyte subpopulations (Th17/Treg), may exert immunomodulatory effects [8][9]. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics combined with the antioxidants vitamin C [10] or selenium as adjuvant therapy in autoimmune thyroiditis, assessing their effects on immunological and endocrine parameters [11][12]. A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted on 48 patients treated with probiotics combined with selenium or vitamin C, including 30 with HT (62.5%) and 18 with GD (37.5%). Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG), and anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) were recorded at baseline and after six months. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0, with a 95% significance level. In GD, TSH normalized and TRAb decreased significantly, particularly in the group treated with probiotics and vitamin C (Figure 1). In HT, treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in anti-TG antibodies (Figure 2) and increased FT4. In conclusion, probiotics, particularly combined with vitamin C, showed potential immunomodulatory effects, especially among patients with GD.

 

References:

[1] Franco J. S. et al. (2013) Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside, El Rosario Univ. Press, Bogota, Ch.30. [2] Lee H. J. et al. (2015) J. Autoimmun.,64, 82–90. [3] Grixti L. et al. (2024) Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord., 25(1), 203–214. [4] Ragusa F. et al. (2019) Best Pract. Res. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 33(6),101367. [5] Weetman A. P. (2021) J. Endocrinol. Invest., 44(5), 883–890. [6] Bogusławska J. et al. (2022) Eur. Thyroid J., 11(1), e210024. [7] Sai A. et al. (2024) Brain Behav. Immun. Integr., 5, 100046. [8] Yang W. et al. (2022) Precis. Clin. Med., 5(3), pbac018. [9] Martin-Gallausiaux C. et al. (2021) Proc. Nutr. Soc.,80(1), 37–49. [10] Chen L. et al. (2024) Br. J. Nutr., 132(12), 1575–1583. [11] Huwiler V. V. et al. (2024) Thyroid, 34(3),295–313. [12] Da Silva G. B. et al. (2023) Mol. Cell Biochem., 478(4), 949–966.

Keywords: probiotics, Hashimoto, Graves, thyroid, immunomodulation.

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