Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: There are reports which suggests that TSH levels are independetly associated with components of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the relatinship between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in owerweight and obese euthyroid subjects.

Methods: In 80 euthyroid owerweight and obese subjects, 44 women and 36 man, fasting blood semples were analyzed for glucose, triglycerides and HDL and estimated BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure, which are parameters for metabolic syndrome according to NCEP ATP III. Subjects were divided in two groups, Group A, subjects with no or one parametar for MetS, and Group B, subjects with two or more parametars for MetS.

Results: Average TSH level in Group B are significantly higher than average TSH level in Group A, 2.87±1.23 vs 1.41±0.34, P<0.005. Levels of total triiodothyronine (T₃) was higher in group B, but there was no statistical significance between the groups. There was no difference between levels of total thyroxin, free thyroxin and free triiodothyronine.

Conclusion: Our results show association between TSH levels in euthyroid range and parameters of metabolic syndrome. It seems that levels of TSH below 2.5 U/l is associated with favourable metabolic profile. Total T₃ and TSH correlated mere with variables of metabolic syndrome than T₄, FT₃ and FT₄.