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Original Article
Comparison of gastrointestinal symptom burden, dietary habits, and quality of life between women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Aims: To compare nutrition-related behaviors, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, food insecurity, and health-related quality of life between women with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and healthy controls, and to explore factors associated with HT. Methods: In this case-control study conducted in Adana, Turkiye, 214 adult women (107 HT; 107 controls) completed a face-to-face questionnaire including a nutrition habits survey, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Group comparisons used chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, correlations were assessed with Spearman’s rho, logistic regression explored factors associated with HT, and path analysis examined interrelationships among food insecurity, MEDAS, GSRS, and SF-36. Results: Compared with controls, the HT group had lower Mediterranean diet adherence (median MEDAS 7 vs 8; p=0.023), higher constipation and reflux symptom scores (p=0.006 and p=0.023), and lower mental health scores (SF-36 mental health; p

Keywords : Hashimoto disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, Mediterranean diet, food insecurity, digestive symptoms, quality of life

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Article available in :
Volume 9, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 691-699
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1887152
Article Information
Received : 11 Şub 2026
Accepted : 15 Nis 2026
Published : 19 May 2026
Corresponding Author :

Zeynep Begüm Kalyoncu Atasoy: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gülhane Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Kılınç Ş, Kalyoncu Atasoy ZB. Comparison of gastrointestinal symptom burden, dietary habits, and quality of life between women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study. J Health Sci Med. 2026;9(3):691-699. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1887152

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