Chapter 30: Medical Nutrition Therapy for Thyroid, Adrenal, and Other Endocrine Disorders

Question 1

autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD)

Answer 1

Occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks or overstimulates the thyroid gland

Question 2

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Answer 2

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

Question 3

thyroxine (T4)

Answer 3

A thyroid hormone named for its four molecules of iodine

Question 4

triiodothyronine (T3)

Answer 4

A thyroid hormone name for its three molecules of iodine. T3 is the most predominant and active form of thyroid hormone that the body can use

Question 5

calcitonin

Answer 5

A hormone that helps regulate the amount of blood calcium

Question 6

Reverse T3 (rT3)

Answer 6

An isomer of T3. Derived from T4 through the action of deiodinase

Question 7

tyrosine

Answer 7

A key amino acid involved in the production of thyroid hormone, and the trace mineral iodine

Question 8

thyroid peroxidase (TPO)

Answer 8

An enzyme in the thyroid responsible for thyroid hormone production

Question 9

hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT axis)

Answer 9

Part of the endocrine system responsible for the regulation of metabolism

Question 10

hypothalamus

Answer 10

A tiny, cone-shaped structure located in the lower center of the brain that communicates between the nervous and the endocrine system

Question 11

pituitary gland

Answer 11

The master gland of the endocrine system located at the base of the brain

Question 12

thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

Answer 12

Produced by the hypothalamus. This hormone travels to the pituitary gland, stimulating it to release TSH, which signals the thyroid gland to upregulate its synthetic machinery

Question 13

thyroid-binding globulin (TBG)

Answer 13

A protein that transports thyroid hormone through the bloodstream, with lesser amounts bound to T4-binding prealbumin

Question 14

free T4

Answer 14

Unbound T4 can be found within the circulatory system

Question 15

5-deiodinase

Answer 15

An enzyme that removes one molecule of iodine from T4 to form either T3 or rT3

Question 16

hypothyroidism

Answer 16

Underactive thyroid

Question 17

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Answer 17

An autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys thyroid gland tissue

Question 18

thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Ab)

Answer 18

Immune cells that indicate the immune system is attacking TPO in the thyroid gland

Question 19

thyroglobulin antibodies (TGB Ab)

Answer 19

Immune cells that indicate the immune system is attacking thyroglobulin in the thyroid gland

Question 20

Schmidt’s syndrome

Answer 20

Refers to hypothyroidism with other endocrine disorders including Addison’s disease, hypoparathyroidism, and diabetes mellitus, all of which may be autoimmune in nature

Question 21

euthyroid sick syndrome

Answer 21

Hypothyroidism associated with a severe systemic illness that causes decreased peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, an increased conversion of T3 to the inactive rT3, and decreased binding of thyroid hormones

Question 22

goitrin

Answer 22

A compound known to interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis

Question 23

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Answer 23

A common endocrine disorder of unknown cause that affects an estimated 3% to 12% of women of reproductive age in Western societies

Question 24

Graves’ disease

Answer 24

An autoimmune disease in which the thyroid is diffusely enlarged (goiter) and overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones

Question 25

hyperthyroidism

Answer 25

Overactive thyroid

Question 26

thyrotoxicosis

Answer 26

A serious metabolic imbalance caused by excessive thyroid hormones

Question 27

Addison’s disease

Answer 27

Primary adrenal insufficiency. In this condition, insufficient steroid hormones are produced in spite of adequate levels of the hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone. People with Addison’s disease lose the ability to appropriately regulate blood sugar and will have low levels of cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine

Question 28

adrenal fatigue

Answer 28

Identified as a collection of signs and symptoms caused by the decreased ability of the adrenal glands to respond adequately to stress

Question 29

cortisol

Answer 29

An adrenal hormone that plays a large role in thyroid health. Cortisol is a life-sustaining hormone essential to the maintenance of homeostasis