dvjorge;56057 wrote:
This is fragment of an old interview to Dr. Michael McNett taliking about candida and thyroid connection. I wrote some emails to this Dr in the past to share knowledge about this syndrome. The connection is real and looks like yeast metabolites impair the thyroid thermostat considerably.
Candida and Yeast and the Connection to Thyroid Disease and Fibromyalgia
An Interview With Dr. Michael McNettby Mary Shomon
mmcnett.jpg – 16905 Bytes Dr. Michael McNett is President and Medical Director of The Paragon Clinic, a Chicago multidisciplinary clinic specializing in treating fibromyalgia and muscular pain. McNett has seven years of experience in Family Practice and over nine years in Emergency Medicine, with additional training in addiction treatment, pharmaceutical research, and integrative medicine. Dr. McNett has some interesting thoughts to share about candida (yeast) overgrowth, and the connection to thyroid problems and fibromyalgia, as well his recommended treatments, based on success he’s had with his patients.
Mary Shomon: In your practice, you see many patients with fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. Have you found that there is a higher than usual incidence of candida in these patients?
Dr. Michael McNett: Very much so. We have known for many years that hypothyroidism causes fibromyalgia; all newly diagnosed fibromyalgia patients routinely get a thyroid profile to see if this is present in them.
In my experience, many patients with fibro who have normal lab tests still have symptoms of hypothyroidism. Most of these patients test positive for candida hypersensitivity syndrome.
Mary Shomon: Do you find that fibromyalgia or hypothyroidism symptoms also improve after a candida infection is treated? Why do you think this is the case?
Dr. Michael McNett: One thing that is very interesting is that treatment for candida hypersensitivity frequently causes all hypothyroid symptoms to disappear. Because of this, I feel that when the immune system attacks the candida cell, some chemical must be released that interferes with thyroid hormone’s ability to cause its effect in the cell.
Thus, at least in these patients, the sequence goes like this:
Something causes their immune system to aggressively attack candida cells that most of us tolerate
Immune attack causes rupture of the cells and release of their contents
Our bodies absorb chemicals released by the yeast, which interfere with thyroid hormone’s ability to cause its effect in the cell, and
the patient develops fibromyalgia symptoms.
Thus, the candida leads to the fibromyalgia and hypothyroid symptoms.Mary Shomon: Why you you feel this doesn’t this show up in thyroid blood tests?
Dr. Michael McNett: The receptor for thyroid hormone (that protein that sits on the DNA) has several types. The type that is present in the “thyroid thermostat” (the parts of the brain, pituitary gland, and thyroid gland that set thyroid hormone levels in the blood) is a different type than the one present in the rest of the brain, skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissue. I believe the chemical from candida affects only the latter type of the receptor, so the “thyroid thermostat” is uninhibited, causing the blood tests to be normal.
Mary Shomon: What are your thoughts about how blockage of thyroid hormone’s effect can cause fibromyalgia?
Dr. Michael McNett: Thyroid hormone works by binding to large proteins covering genes on our DNA. If these proteins are strongly attached to the DNA, the genes are inhibited. If the proteins lift off and expose the DNA, the genes act as a “blueprint” for making enzymes to do various functions in the cell.
There appear to be two main DNA regions covered by proteins affected by thyroid hormone. The first one covers genes for a number of enzymes involved in energy production, and, when thyroid binds to it, it lifts up, causing more of these enzymes to be made. The other covers genes responsible for the production and detection of Substance P, which is responsible for pain sensation. When thyroid binds to this protein, it sticks tightly to the DNA, reducing production and detection of Substance P.
Thus, low thyroid effect causes decreased metabolism (fatigue, poor mental functioning, etc.) and increased pain sensation. These are exactly the problems experienced by patients with fibromyalgia.
Wow…so if its the immune system attacking the candida, I have to figure out what is causing the immune-trigger (since I only get a thyroid reaction when I introduce new foods that I figure might be bad food choices).
This was very interesting, and very encouraging!
Totally makes sense.
I have been taking an Endocrine formula that happens to support the thyroid, and my zero-pain tolerance last month required me to take painkillers.
Im anxious to see if 3 weeks on thyroid-support makes a difference in my pain tolerance!
THANK YOU FOR THIS
