Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) lower than has been reported to be prevalent in several autoimmune diseases. The aims of the study were i) to evaluate the 25(OH)D3 levels in patients with Hashimato’s thyroiditis (HT) and ii) to investigate the relationships between 25(OH)D3, TSH, free T₄, free T₃, and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) levels in elderly patients with HT.

Subjects and method: Study population included 80 (mean age 58.1±9.3 years; 60 females and 20 males) patients with HT. Data such as 25(OH)D3, TSH, fT₄, fT₃, and anti-TPO tests were retrospectively searched. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D3 concentrations lower than 30 ng/ml.

Results: In elderly with HT, mean levels of 25(OH)D3 were found to be 39.7±6.5 ng/ml. However, mean levels of 25(OH)D3 were 52.0±12.3 ng/ml in patients with HT (age <60 years) (P=0.05). In patients with HT (age <60 years) means level of 25(OH)D3 concentrations were inversely correlated with the anti-TPO levels (r=−0.700, P=0.04). And also, in elderly group, mean levels of 25(OH)D3 concentrations were positively correlated with the fT₄ levels (r=−0.700, P=0.04).

Conclusion: 25(OH)D3 deficiency was significantly higher in elderly. And also, mean levels of 25(OH)D3 were positively correlated with fT₄ in elderly with HT, but inversely correlated with anti-TPO levels in patients with HT (age <60 years).