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Postprandial lipaemia suppresses endothelium-dependent arterial dilation in patients with hypothyroidism

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Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction represents an early step in the development of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between postprandial lipaemia and endothelial dysfunction in patients with overt hypothyroidism (oHT) and subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT). Female subjects with oHT and sHT, as well as female healthy subjects with euthyroid state were enrolled (10 cases in each group). The examination of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was performed before and after an oral fat-loading by high resolution ultrasound. Endothelial dysfunction after an oral fat challenge was related to the extent of hypertriglyceridemia and free radicals. FMD decreased significantly at 4-h point in 3 groups, (p < 0.05) and then FMD in control and sHT restored to baseline at 8-h point, it was lower than baseline in sHT group at 6-h point (p = 0.042). However, FMD continued to decrease at 6-h point (p < 0.001), and then increased toward to baseline at 8-h point, which was still lower than baseline (p = 0.039) in oHT. Spearman’s analysis showed a negative correlation between FMD and triglyceride, a negative correlation between FMD and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and a positive correlation between triglyceride and TBARS levels during oral lipid-loading test in hypothyroid patients (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.05). In hypothyroid subjects including oHT and sHT, even in healthy individuals, FMD was impaired after an oral fat challenge. The endothelial dysfunction observed after an oral fat challenge was related to the extent of hypertriglyceridemia and oxygen-derived free radicals.

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Abbreviations

PPL:

Postprandial lipaemia

oHT:

Overt hypothyroidism

sHT:

Subclinical hypothyroidism

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilation (endothelium-dependent vasodilation)

TPO-Ab:

Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody

Tg-Ab:

Anti-thyroglobulin antibody

fT4:

Free T4

fT3:

Free T3

TSH:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

BMI:

Body mass index

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

FBS:

Fasting blood sugar

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

Lp(a):

Lipoprotein (a)

CRP:

C-reactive protein

GTN:

Glyceryl trinitrate

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Wuluo Road 627, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Guang Da Xiang & Lin Shuang Zhao

  2. College of Life Science, Hubei University, Youyi Road 368, Wuhan, 430062, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Ling Wei Xiang

  3. Department of Radiology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Wuluo Road 627, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Lin He

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  1. Guang Da Xiang
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Correspondence to Guang Da Xiang.

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Xiang, G.D., Xiang, L.W., He, H.L. et al. Postprandial lipaemia suppresses endothelium-dependent arterial dilation in patients with hypothyroidism. Endocrine 42, 391–398 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-012-9624-0

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