Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Increased levels of fasting parathyroid hormone(PTH) have been hypothesized to influence increased levels of body fat mass. Preliminary studies show that serum PTH levels are higher in obese than in non-obese young adults and decline with weight loss. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate relationship between antropometric and metabolic risk parameters and PTH levels in Turkish women.

Materials and methods: Analyses were performed on 710 Turkish women without hyperparathyroidism. They were enrolled to tertils of PTH levels (group I, <42 pg/ml; group II, 42–62 pg/ml; group III, >63 pg/ml and above) to the study. Body compositions, plasma lipids and lipoprotein levels, glucose homeostasis were determined and compared between groups.

Results: There were 227 patients in group I, 246 in group II and 237 in group III. Mean body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, waist circumferences were highest in group III, and increased with PTH. Mean PTH levels were significantly highest in patients having high BMI (48.6±22.1 pg/ml in patients with <25 kg/m², 56.3±35.1 pg/ml within 25–30 kg/m², 61.8±30.3 pg/ml within 30–35 kg/m², 63.8±29.9 pg/ml within 35–40 kg/m²)(P<0.05). Mean values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HOMA were not different between groups (P>0.05). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in group II and III were significantly higher than group I (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Preliminary studies suggest that PTH excess may promote weight gain by impeding catecholamine-induced lipolysis. Our data support a relationship between fasting serum PTH and fat mass in women. Fasting PTH is associated with increased fat mass and BMI.