Ankara Medical Journal (Mar 2020)
The Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Body Fat Mass and Metabolic Parameters by Gender in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Thyroid hormone plays a significant role in the regulation of body metabolism and thyroid gland dysfunction is commonly seen in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between hypothyroidism, body fat mass (BFM) and metabolic parameters in patients with DM. METHODS: The study included patients with DM aged 18 years and above, who admitted to the Diabetes Unit of our hospital between December 2017 and May 2018. The files of all participants were reviewed retrospectively. All participants included in the study were divided into two groups according to the presence of hypothyroidism. Body mass index (BMI), total extremity fat mass (TEFM), total body fat mass (TBFM), trunk fat mass (TFM) and body fat percentage (BFP) of all participants were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and C-peptide levels of the patients were evaluated. Targeted TSH levels in the treatment of hypothyroidism were defined 0.4-2.5 mU/mL in young and middle-aged individuals, 3-6 mU/mL in the 65-80 years of age, and ≤10 mU/mL in individuals older than 80 years of age. RESULTS: A total of 620 patients with DM were included in the study and 141 (22.74%) of them had hypothyroidism. Thyroid regulation was achieved in 55 (39.01%) of the participants with hypothyroidism. Of female patients with hypothyroidism, BMI was 35.18+-6.03 kg/m2, while it was 33.79+-6.19 kg/m2 in patients without hypothyroidism (p=0.035). In male patients with hypothyroidism, BMI was 30.58+-3.85 kg/m2, while it was 30.75+-4.80 kg/m2 in patients without hypothyroidism (p=0.865). In female patients with and without hypothyroidism, HbA1c was 7.51+-1.91% and 8.12+-2.02%, respectively (p=0.004). However, in female patients with and without thyroid regulation, HbA1c was 6.73+-1.21% and 7.95+-2.10%, respectively (p=0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In females with hypothyroidism, BMI and TEFM were significantly higher, while there was no such difference in males. Furthermore, HbA1c levels were higher in females without hypothyroidism and HbA1c was lower in those with thyroid regulation. No significant difference was observed in terms of HbA1c levels in males with hypothyroidism.
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