Alterations of the Gut Microbiota in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Patients

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which both genetic predisposition and environmental factors serve as disease triggers. Many studies have indicated that alterations in the gut microbiota are important environmental factors in the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. A comparative analysis was systematically performed of the gut microbiota in HT patients and healthy controls. Methods: First, a cross-sectional study of 28 HT patients and 16 matched healthy controls was conducted. Fecal samples were collected, and microbiota were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Second, an independent cohort of 22 HT patients and 11 healthy controls was used to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the selected biomarkers. Results: Similar levels of bacterial richness and diversity were found in the gut microbiota of HT patients and healthy controls (p = 0.11). A detailed fecal microbiota Mann–Whitney U-test (Q value <0.05) revealed that the a...