RELATIONSHIP OF THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME IN A SAMPLE OF EUTHYROID PAKISTANI POPULATION

Authors

  • Muhammad Shahzad Saleem
  • Tanvir Ali Khan Shirwany
  • Khurshid Ahmad Khan

Abstract

Background: Metabolic Syndrome is a group of factors that predispose to cardiovascular diseases.The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is rising rapidly. Recently, a few studies have suggested thatlower thyroid function in the reference range may be associated with metabolic syndrome, but theissue remains unsettled. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between thyroid function andcomponents of metabolic syndrome in a sample of euthyroid Pakistani population. Methods: Thisanalytical, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, University ofHealth Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, and extended over a period of 12 months. It included 100 subjectswith metabolic syndrome in the study group and thirty subjects without metabolic syndrome in thecontrol group with age ranging 45–55 years. Both groups had normal thyroid function. After adetailed history and clinical examination, fasting blood was analysed for glucose, triglycerides, highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol along with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine.Results: Serum TSH was significantly higher in study group than in control group (p=0.040). Serumfree thyroxine values of study group were slightly but not significantly lower than those of controlgroup. Serum TSH correlated significantly and positively with serum triglycerides in all subjects andwith waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure in men. Serum TSH showed a positive andlinear relationship with the number of components of metabolic syndrome (p=0.016) in all subjects.Conclusion: High-normal TSH is associated with metabolic syndrome and its components. Theremay be increased risk of cardiovascular diseases with high-normal TSH levels.Keywords: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Metabolic Syndrome, Euthyroid

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Published

2011-06-01