Hypothyroidism and Gastroparesis

[maryfran33]

Gastroparesis has to do with slow gastric emptying. What is the incidence of this symptom and hypothyroidism? Will increasing the thyroid hormone replacement dose alleviate this type of gastrointestinal problem?

[Dr Petros Perros]

hypothyroidism slows down transit through the large bowel and can cause constipation. Gastroparesis is a dramatic combination of symptoms from failure of the stomach to empty and is not associated with hypothyroidism. It is encountered most frequently in clinical practice in patients with long-standign diabetes when there is damage to the nerve supply to the stomach. Manipulating the dose of thyroxine is unlikely to be helpful.

[maryfran33]

Thank you for your quick reply, Dr. Perros.

There are many studies indicating that hypothyroidism affects the entire gastrointestinal system and causes hypomotility. Perhaps the hypomotility is not full-blown gastroparesis, but there can definitely be slower gastric motility. This makes sense to me since hypothyroidism is a metabolic disease.

My question is: would increasing the thyroid hormone replacement dose be helpful in increasing stomach motility?