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TSH levels elevated in children, adolescents with obesity
Children and adolescents with obesity may have higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone vs. those with overweight or normal weight, but study findings show that these differences could be because of the higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in people with obesity.
Emilio García-García, MD, of the Clinic of Pediatrics at Hospital Torrecárdenas in Almeria, Spain, and colleagues evaluated a representative sample of 1,317 children and adolescents (mean age, 8.8 years; 48.8% girls; 38.4% pubescent) from southern Spain to determine whether thyroid function and autoimmunity vary with weight status and whether hyperthyrotropinemia is linked to any cardiovascular risk factor.
Chemiluminescence immunoassay was used to analyze serum concentrations of free thyroxine, TSH, antiperoxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies, and the Benotti method was used to determine urinary iodine from urine samples. Thyroid autoimmunity was indicated if there was a positive result for any antibody.
Excess weight was identified in 1.2% of the participants, obesity in 9.8% and overweight in 21.4%. Thyroid autoimmunity prevalence was 3.7%. Compared with participants with overweight (2.79 mU/L) and normal weight (2.73 mU/L), participants with obesity had higher TSH levels (3.12 mU/L; P = .02). No significant differences were found for free T4 levels, gender, Tanner stage groups or age groups among the three groups.
The prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity was higher among participants with overweight (6.3%) and obesity (5.6%) compared with normal-weight participants (2.9%; P = .02).
No CV risk factor was linked to TSH after correction for variables, including weight status.
“In our study population, the obese group of children and adolescents had slightly higher TSH level than the overweight and normal-weight subjects, but these differences, although statistically significant, were of very little or no clinical significance,” the researchers wrote. “The increased concentration of TSH is also not associated with any [CV] risk factor. This study has also shown that the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity is higher in children and adolescents with excess weight. The hyperthyrotropinemia associated with obesity could possibly be linked to a state of autoimmunity.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.