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Raised serum TSH in morbid-obese and non-obese patients: effect on the circulating lipid profile

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Abstract

Morbid obesity is associated with a high rate of raised serum TSH associated with normal free thyroid hormones. The body repercussions of this thyroid abnormality, suggesting subclinical hypothyroidism, are still debated. In particular, it is unclear whether the raised serum TSH of obesity results in changes of circulating lipids typically observed in hypothyroidism. Aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a raised serum TSH on the lipid profile in morbid-obese and non-obese patients. Serum TSH, FT4, FT3, Tg-Ab, TPO-Ab and lipids were measured in 55 morbid-obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) and 55 non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) patients with a raised serum TSH. Despite similar serum levels of TSH, FT4 and FT3, morbid-obese patients displayed significantly lower mean levels of total cholesterol (200.8 ± 35.6 vs. 226.9 ± 41.4 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and a significantly lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (50.9 vs. 72.7 %, p < 0.01) when compared with non-obese patients. Morbid-obese patients also had lower mean serum HDL cholesterol and higher serum triglycerides. The impact of a raised serum TSH on the lipid profile differs in morbid-obese compared to non-obese patients, suggesting that obese patients might not be truly hypothyroid. Measuring total cholesterol could be a helpful tool for deciding whether a morbid-obese patient with a raised serum TSH should be given levothyroxine treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported in part by funds from Progetto Ricerca Finalizzata 2005 “Rete Obesità” Italian Ministry of Health.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri I.R.C.C.S., Chair of Endocrinology, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 10, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Mario Rotondi, Paola Leporati, Maria Ileana Rizza, Alessandra Clerici, Gloria Groppelli, Cristina Pallavicini, Antonella La Manna, Rodolfo Fonte, Flavia Magri & Luca Chiovato

  2. Department of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Bernadette Biondi

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  1. Mario Rotondi
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  2. Paola Leporati
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  3. Maria Ileana Rizza
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  4. Alessandra Clerici
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Correspondence to Luca Chiovato.

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Rotondi, M., Leporati, P., Rizza, M.I. et al. Raised serum TSH in morbid-obese and non-obese patients: effect on the circulating lipid profile. Endocrine 45, 92–97 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-9928-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-9928-8

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