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Effect of vitamin D supplementation on TSH levels in euthyroid subjects with autoimmune thyroiditis

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Abstract

Purpose

The impact of vitamin D supplementation on thyroid function is not clear and the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and autoimmune thyroiditis (ATD) incidence and evolution is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on thyroid function in subjects with and without ATD.

Methods

One hundred and ninety-eight euthyroid subjects, with diagnosis of “hypovitaminosis D” (<30 ng/mL) who had been taking supplementation therapy with cholecalciferol for different time periods, were included. They were divided in two groups according to the previous diagnosis of ATD: “ATD-neg” group including subjects without ATD [n = 103 (52%)]; “ATD-pos” group including subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of ATD [n = 95 (48%)]. For both groups, we considered TSH and 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels before (T0) and after (T1) cholecalciferol supplementation. We also considered the treatment duration and the monthly dose of cholecalciferol expressed as IU/month.

Results

In hypovitaminosis D subjects with ATD, TSH levels significantly decreased after therapy with cholecalciferol 100.000 IU/month [mean ± SD, TSH at T0: 2.67 ± 1.21 vs. TSH at T1: 2.28 ± 0.86, p = 0.028]. No significant TSH variation was observed in ATD-neg group, irrespective of treatment dose and duration. As expected, 25OHD levels significantly improved with all monthly doses and especially in the group receiving 100.000 IU/month.

Conclusions

Cholecalciferol supplementation improved thyroid function in euthyroid ATD-pos subjects affected with severe hypovitaminosis D. In particular, a significant reduction in TSH levels was observed in subjects with very low baseline 25OHD levels, after taking high monthly doses of cholecalciferol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico “Gemelli” IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, I-00167, Rome, Italy

    Alice Villa, Andrea Corsello, Giampaolo Papi, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Salvatore Maria Corsello & Rosa Maria Paragliola

  2. Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell’Alimentazione, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, I-00133, Rome, Italy

    Marco Cintoni

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  1. Alice Villa
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  2. Andrea Corsello
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  3. Marco Cintoni
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  4. Giampaolo Papi
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Correspondence to Andrea Corsello.

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Villa, A., Corsello, A., Cintoni, M. et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on TSH levels in euthyroid subjects with autoimmune thyroiditis. Endocrine 70, 85–91 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02274-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02274-9

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