In the past gluten consumption has been implicated in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. Now investigators from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York have found a correlation with this disease and artificial sweeteners.
Of 100 patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, 53 reported using the equivalent of 3.5 packets of artificial sweetener per day – mostly aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) or Suralose (Splenda). When they checked those results against 125 patients without Hashimoto’s, 12% regularly used artificial sweeteners and 88% did not.
Dr Sachmechi an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Hospital routinely asks Hashimoto’s patients now if they routinely use artificial sweeteners. If they respond positively then he ask that they discontinue their use. So far three have taken his advice and two have had complete reversal of their thyroiditis and no longer need to take thyroid medication.