02/26/2026
Pretty sweet results! Who’s ready to try?
A 2010 pilot clinical trial published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine investigated the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT), the most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism. In this study, 15 hypothyroid patients already receiving levothyroxine (LT4) underwent 10 sessions of LLLT (830 nm, 50 mW) over five weeks. Thyroid ultrasounds and laboratory markers—including T3, T4, free T4, TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)—were evaluated before treatment and during follow-up after LT4 withdrawal. The researchers also assessed thyroid echogenicity using a computerized gray-scale histogram index.
Results showed a significant reduction in LT4 requirements after LLLT, with nearly half of the participants (47%) remaining off hormone replacement during the nine-month follow-up. Average LT4 dosage dropped markedly, and TPOAb levels significantly decreased, suggesting reduced autoimmune activity. Additionally, ultrasound findings demonstrated improved thyroid parenchymal echogenicity. Although TgAb levels did not significantly change, the overall findings indicated that LLLT may improve thyroid function and reduce autoimmune markers in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. As a small pilot study, however, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.
PMID: 20662037