The association between obesity and thyroid stimulating hormone in adults

Background. Obesity is the most important social epidemic of the 21st century. The combination of increased thyroid pathology and obesity is particularly noteworthy. Obesity is associated with numerous endocrine abnormalities, including thyroid dysfunction and central obesity. However, it is unclear whether thyroid disorder in obese individuals is a cause of that condition or an effect. Obesity is the most important social epidemic of the 21st century. The combination of increased thyroid pathology and obesity is particularly noteworthy. Aim of the study was to elucidate the relationship between obesity and serum plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Materials and methods. The records of 73 obese patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 among individuals aged 18–65 and a 27-member non-obese group with normal BMI were scanned retrospectively. Age, sex, anthropometric measurements, TSH, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL results were recorded. The t test, Mann Whitney U test, chi square test, and Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were employed for data analysis. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Seventy-three patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and 27 non-obese controls were included in the study. Fifty-nine of the individuals enrolled were women and 41 were men, with an average age of 36.4 ± 10.4 years. Significant differences were observed in BMI, FPG, insulin, HbA1c, HDL, and TSH values between the groups (p < 0.05). TSH was significantly positively correlated with TSH and BMI, HbA1c, insulin and FPG (p < 0.001, r = 0.360; p = 0.031, r = 0.231; p = 0.021, r = 0.231 and p = 0.017, r = 0.237, respectively). Negative correlation was present between TSH and HDL (p = 0.006, r = –0.272). Conclusions. TSH, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and insulin values were higher in the obese group compared with the normal weight healthy group, while HDL values were lower. Significant positive correlation was determined between TSH and BMI. These findings support the idea that a slight increase in TSH levels may occur in obese individuals.