Jornal de Pediatria ()

Serum TSH levels are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese adolescents

  • Luciana Lopes de Souza,
  • Erika Paniago Guedes,
  • Patrícia Fátima dos Santos Teixeira,
  • Rodrigo Oliveira Moreira,
  • Amelio Fernando Godoy-Matos,
  • Mario Vaisman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2016.01.011
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 92, no. 5
pp. 532 – 538

Abstract

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Abstract Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum thyrotropin (TSH), insulin resistance (IR), and cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in a sample of overweight and obese Brazilian adolescents. Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal analysis of 199 overweight and obese pubescent adolescents was performed. The TSH and free T4 (fT4) levels, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory test results of these patients were analyzed. Results: 27 individuals (13.56%) presented with TSH levels above the normal level (subclinical hypothyroidism [SCH]). Their waist circumference (WC) was significantly higher than those of euthyroid individuals. Serum TSH was positively correlated with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Using TSH and BMI as independent variables, TSH levels were shown to be independently related to HOMA-IR (p = 0.001) and TG (p = 0.007). Among euthyroid subjects, individuals with TSH values <2.5 mIU/mL exhibited statistically significant decreases in waist-to-hip ratio, HDL-C levels, and HOMA-IR scores and a tendency toward lower WC values. Conclusion: SCH in overweight and obese adolescents appears to be associated with excess weight, especially visceral weight. In euthyroid adolescents, there appears to be a direct relationship between TSH and some CRF. In conclusion, in the present sample of overweight and obese adolescents, TSH levels appear to be associated with IR and CRF.

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