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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 3: 571 - 583

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.005

Original Articles

Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqi decoction (补中益气汤) for Hashimoto's thyroiditis: insights from gut microbiota and metabolomics

  • CHEN Ying ,
  • QIAO Jiajun ,
  • LU Yuyuan ,
  • XUE Chongxiang ,
  • XIA Zhongyuan
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  • 1 Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Surgery of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
    2 Surgery of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
    3 Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
First author contact:

CHEN Ying and QIAO Jiajun are co-first authors and contributed equally to this work

Prof. XIA Zhongyuan, Department of Surgery of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. zryhyy1961@163.com, Telephone: +86-10-84205309

Received date: 2024-12-19

  Accepted date: 2025-09-12

  Online published: 2026-06-08

Supported by

National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding: Study on the Mechanism of the Gut Microbiota Participating in the Metabolic Regulation Therapy of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis by Buzhong Yiqi decoction(2023-NHLHCRF-BQ-28);Tongchuan Thyroid Disease Prevention Center 2023 Research Special Youth Project: Study on the Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in Treating Hashimoto's Thyroiditis by Improving Gut Mucosal Barrier(TJF-QN-2023-06);National Natural Science Foundation of China: Action Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in Treating Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Based on Transforming Growth Factor β/Smad Signaling Pathway and the Balance between Treg and Th17 Cells(81973855)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Buzhong Yiqi decoction (补中益气汤BZYQ) and its potential mechanism by conducting a comprehensive analysis of intestinal microbiota and metabolomics in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) rats.

METHODS: An AIT model with antibiotic cocktail were established. After 8 weeks of intervention with BZYQ, the levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) were measured. Pathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Changes of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites were analyzed through 16S RNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis.

RESULTS: BZYQ intervention improved pathological damage of thyroid gland in AIT rats and significantly reduced the levels of anti-thyroid antibodies. Additionally, it had an ameliorative effect on the pathological damage of the colon. Also, BZYQ increased the abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri, reversing the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. And BZYQ could regulate tryptophan metabolism of tryptophan to reverse metabolic disorders in HT. The correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between tryptophan metabolism and Lactobacillus reuteri.

CONCLUSIONS: BZYQ is a promising therapeutic approach for HT. Its mechanism in treating HT may be associated with the regulation of gut microbiota dysbiosis and the improvement of gut-derived metabolic disorders.

Key words： RNA, ribosomal, 16S; sequence analysis, RNA; gastrointestinal microbiome; metabolomics; tryptophan; Buzhong Yiqi decoction

Cite this article

CHEN Ying , QIAO Jiajun , LU Yuyuan , XUE Chongxiang , XIA Zhongyuan . Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqi decoction (补中益气汤) for Hashimoto's thyroiditis: insights from gut microbiota and metabolomics[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(3) : 571 -583 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.005

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