Association between High Normal TSH Levels and Obesity in Women with Anti-Thyroid Autoantibodies (ATAs)

A positive correlation between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Body Mass Index (BMI) has been reported in many studies, but data on this topic remain controversial, especially when TSH values are in the normal range. Moreover, few studies have evaluated the co-existence of thyroid autoimmunity...

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Published in:Journal of clinical medicine 2022-08, Vol.11 (17), p.5125
Main Authors: Velluzzi, Fernanda, Pisanu, Silvia, Galletta, Maura, Fosci, Michele, Secci, Gianni, Deledda, Andrea, Boi, Francesco, Rodia, Rossella, Fanciulli, Giuseppe, Delitala, Alessandro Palmerio, Sainas, Gianmarco, Loviselli, Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body mass index
Clinical medicine
Diabetes
Ethics
Gastrointestinal surgery
Hormones
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Middle age
Mortality
Obesity
Overweight
Population
Thyroid diseases
Ultrasonic imaging
Weight control
Womens health
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Summary:A positive correlation between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Body Mass Index (BMI) has been reported in many studies, but data on this topic remain controversial, especially when TSH values are in the normal range. Moreover, few studies have evaluated the co-existence of thyroid autoimmunity. This study investigated the role of thyroid autoimmunity in the interconnection between TSH, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) in euthyroid patients with overweight or obesity. We enrolled 902 patients (213 males; mean age ± SD: 45 ± 14 years; mean BMI ± SD: 35.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2), with normal serum TSH concentration; anti-thyroid autoantibodies (ATAs) were evaluated in 752 patients (186 males). Patients were divided into four BMI classes, based on WHO criteria, and the relationship between BMI, WC, and TSH was evaluated in the whole sample and compared to ATAs positivity, observed in 235 patients (44 males). No significant difference was found between TSH levels in the BMI classes. A statistically significant correlation between TSH and BMI was found only in ATAs-positive females (N = 191, Spearman rho: 0.149; p-value: 0.040). However, this finding was not confirmed when considering the WC. Our study shows a positive correlation only between TSH and BMI in obese women with positive ATAs, suggesting that in these patients, the high normal levels of TSH could be attributed to a mild thyroid failure with a possible worsening obesity-related effect, and both need a careful evaluation.
ISSN:2077-0383
2077-0383
DOI:10.3390/jcm11175125