Title | Subclinical hypothyroidism, weight change, and body composition in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Garin, MC, Arnold, AM, Lee, JS, Tracy, RP, Cappola, AR |
Journal | J Clin Endocrinol Metab |
Volume | 99 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 1220-6 |
Date Published | 2014 Apr |
ISSN | 1945-7197 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Asymptomatic Diseases, Body Composition, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism, Male, Thyroid Gland, Weight Loss |
Abstract | <p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Subclinical hypothyroidism is common in the elderly, yet its relationship with weight and body composition is unclear.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>We examined the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and weight change and body composition in older adults.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>A total of 427 subclinically hypothyroid and 2864 euthyroid U.S. individuals ≥65 years old enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study and not taking thyroid preparations were included. Analyses of 6-year weight change were performed, compared by thyroid status. A cross-sectional analysis of thyroid status and body composition was performed in a subset of 1276 participants who had dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans. Models were risk factor-adjusted and stratified by sex.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Overall, participants lost weight during follow-up (-0.38 kg/y in men, -0.37 kg/y in women). Subclinical hypothyroidism, when assessed at a single time point or persisting over 2 years, was not associated with a difference in weight change compared with euthyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism was also not associated with differences in lean mass, fat mass, or percent fat compared with euthyroidism. A TSH level 1 mU/L higher within the euthyroid or subclinical hypothyroid range was associated with a 0.51-kg higher baseline weight in women only (P < .001) but not with weight change in either sex. A 1 ng/dL higher free T4 level was associated with lower baseline weight and 0.32 kg/y greater weight loss in women only (P = .003). Baseline weight and weight change did not differ by T3 levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Our data do not support a clinically significant impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on weight status in the elderly.</p> |
DOI | 10.1210/jc.2013-3591 |
Alternate Journal | J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. |
PubMed ID | 24432998 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3973778 |
Grant List | N01HC85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268200800007C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC55222 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85086 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01AG032317 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01HC85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201200036C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States T32DK007314 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States R01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 AG032317 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HHSN268200800007C / / PHS HHS / United States N01HC85082 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85083 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201200036C / / PHS HHS / United States HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85079 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01HC85080 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States T32 DK007314 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States R56 AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01HC85081 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01 HC55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States |