ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT05949671Updated Jul 18, 2023

Evaluation of the Effect of Gluten-Free Diet and Mediterranean Diet

An interventional study of mediterranean, gluten-free and mediterranean gluten-free diet intervention in Hashimoto Thyroiditis and Hashimoto Disease, sponsored by Acibadem University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-07-18.

Sponsored by Acibadem University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 2 years 1 month after the study started (first participant enrolled Jun 2021, registered Jul 2023).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Background: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that attacks thyroid cells through cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes and is characterized by the production of thyroid autoantibodies. In hashimoto, antithyroid peroxidase antibodies are increased and thyroid stimulating hormone levels are elevated. A gluten-free diet regulates thyroid autoimmunization by decreasing the concentration of antibodies. The Mediterranean diet also reduces disease-related oxidative stress parameters in patients with hashimoto's thyroid due to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Aims: To evaluate the short-term effects of Mediterranean, gluten-free and Mediterranean gluten-free dietary patterns on thyroid function and autoantibody levels of patients.

Study Design: Prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial including case and control groups Methods: The 40 patients with hashimato thyroiditis included in the study were randomly divided into 4 different groups as gluten-free, Mediterranean, Mediterranean gluten-free and control group for 12 weeks. Thyroid function tests and autoantibody levels were analyzed at the beginning and end of the study. In addition, anthropometric measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the study and food consumption records and food consumption frequencies were evaluated.

Read the detailed description

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of Mediterranean (MD), Gluten Free (GFD) and Mediterranean Gluten Free (MGFD) dietary patterns on the autoimmune system in patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. The study was planned as a prospective single-blind study including case and control groups and 40 women with hashimoto participated. Study participants were not taking medication or supplements to better evaluate the effect of the nutritional intervention on thyroid function. Participants were divided into 4 groups as MD, GFD, MGFD nutrition intervention groups and control group. At the beginning of the study and after three months of nutritional intervention, anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, thyroid function tests were performed, food consumption records and food consumption frequencies were taken. Weekly menus were planned and the compliance of the individuals with the nutritional intervention applied for three months was evaluated. In this study, the decrease in antibody levels and changes in thyroid function tests were evaluated as short-term effects of the nutritional intervention. Long-term studies evaluating the changes on antibodies with nutritional intervention are needed.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hashimoto Thyroiditis
  • Hashimoto Disease

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Keywords

  • Mediterranean diet
  • Mediterranean gluten-free diet
  • Gluten-free diet
  • hashimoto
03

In context

Hashimoto Disease

53 studies on the registry are indexed under Hashimoto Disease; 13 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 40 is below the median of 60 across 31 interventional studies indexed under Hashimoto Disease.

Browse Hashimoto Disease studies →

Lead sponsor

Acibadem University is the lead sponsor of 220 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • To apply to the Internal Diseases (Internal Medicine) outpatient clinic, to be diagnosed with hashimato thyroid (HT) by a physician and to be between the ages of 18-65,
  • No diagnosis of any system disease other than HT that may adversely affect the study,
  • No symptoms of celiac disease and no diagnosis,
  • Not following a gluten-free diet in the last three months,
  • Not being diagnosed with an eating behaviour disorder,
  • Not having any communication problems,
  • Signing the form,
  • Having had a thyroid ultrasound within the last six months,
  • Elevated anti -TPO (>5.61 IU/ml) and anti Tg (>4.11 IU/ml),
  • To have TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 tests performed,
  • to be in the range of 18.5 kg/m2 - 30 kg/m2 \<,
  • Not losing 5% and/or more body weight in the last month

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

    • Under 18 years of age and over 65 years of age,
  • Having thyroid disease other than HT,
  • Having a diagnosis of system disease other than HT that may adversely affect the study,
  • Symptoms and/or diagnosis of celiac disease,
  • To have been diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity,
  • Following a gluten-free diet within the last three months,
  • A diet therapy that has an effect on the autoimmune system within the last three months,
  • Being diagnosed with eating behaviour disorder,
  • Having any communication problems,
  • Not signing the form,
  • Failure to adapt to the work during the working period, to be in a situation/behaviour that may adversely affect the work,
  • To have applied any nutritional intervention during the last three months prior to the study,
  • Being pregnant or breastfeeding,
  • Taking supplements such as selenium, zinc, vitamin D and/or iodine, which may affect the course of the study,
  • To have received cancer treatment and / or to be receiving cancer treatment,
  • Having other endocrine or metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular diseases),
  • Diagnosed with a disease lasting more than 4 months in the last 12 months and other specialised dietary / compositionally different dietary patterns (e.g. high protein, ketogenic, low energy content \< 1000 kcal/day),
  • \<18.5 kg/m2 or BMI≥30 kg/m2,
  • Loss of 5% and/or more body weight in the last month.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Mediterranean groups

    This study is a prospective, single-blind study including case and control groups. Before the study started, participants were informed about the benefits and risks of the study. Participants were randomly divided into four different groups (MD, GFD, MGFD and control group). The intervention groups (MD group (n=10)) were administered weekly diets by a dietitian for 12 weeks according to individual-specific and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted. Patients were interviewed weekly to assess adherence to the study protocol and food consumption was recorded at each interview; those who complied with the weekly planned menus by less than eighty percent were excluded from the study.

    Other: mediterranean, gluten-free and mediterranean gluten-free diet intervention

  • Experimental
    Gluten-Free groups

    This study is a prospective, single-blind study including case and control groups. Before the study started, participants were informed about the benefits and risks of the study. Participants were randomly divided into four different groups (MD, GFD, MGFD and control group). The intervention groups (GFD (n=10)) were administered weekly diets by a dietitian for 12 weeks according to individual-specific and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted. Patients were interviewed weekly to assess adherence to the study protocol and food consumption was recorded at each interview; those who complied with the weekly planned menus by less than eighty percent were excluded from the study.

    Other: mediterranean, gluten-free and mediterranean gluten-free diet intervention

  • Experimental
    Mediterranean Gluten-Free groups

    This study is a prospective, single-blind study including case and control groups. Before the study started, participants were informed about the benefits and risks of the study. Participants were randomly divided into four different groups (MD, GFD, MGFD and control group). The intervention groups (MGFD (n=10)) were administered weekly diets by a dietitian for 12 weeks according to individual-specific and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted. Patients were interviewed weekly to assess adherence to the study protocol and food consumption was recorded at each interview; those who complied with the weekly planned menus by less than eighty percent were excluded from the study.

    Other: mediterranean, gluten-free and mediterranean gluten-free diet intervention

  • No intervention
    control group

    Patients in the control group (n=10) did not receive any special dietary intervention.

Interventions

  • Othermediterranean, gluten-free and mediterranean gluten-free diet intervention

    This study is a prospective, single-blind study including case and control groups. Before the study started, participants were informed about the benefits and risks of the study. Participants were randomly divided into four different groups (MD, GFD, MGFD and control group). The intervention groups (MD group (n=10), GFD (n=10), MGFD (n=10)) were administered weekly diets by a dietitian for 12 weeks according to individual-specific and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted. Patients in the control group (n=10) did not receive any special dietary intervention. Patients were interviewed weekly to assess adherence to the study protocol and food consumption was recorded at each interview; those who complied with the weekly planned menus by less than eighty percent were excluded from the study.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluation of the Effect of Gluten-Free Diet and Mediterranean Diet on the Autoimmune System in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroid

    Diet group (MD group (n=10)) was administered weekly diets for 12 weeks by a dietitian according to personalised and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted.

    Time frame: May 2021-June2022

Other outcomes

  1. Evaluation of the Effect of Gluten-Free Diet and Mediterranean Diet on the Autoimmune System in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroid

    Diet group (MD group (n=10)) was administered weekly diets for 12 weeks by a dietitian according to personalised and daily energy needs and weight loss was not targeted.

    Time frame: May 2021-May 2022

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Istınye University
    Istanbul, Turkey
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 18, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05949671
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 18, 2023
Start date
Jun 10, 2021
Primary completion
Sep 10, 2021
Completion
May 20, 2022
Last update
Jul 18, 2023

Study contacts

Mutlu Tuçe Ülker, Dr
principal investigator · Acibadem University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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