Highlights
- •Higher thyrotropin levels are associated with a poorer lipid profile in premenopausal women.
- •Thyrotropin in postmenopausal women is positively associated with trygliceride levels.
- •Aging and menopause may play a role in the association between thyrotropin and lipid levels.
Abstract
Objective
Thyroid hormone influences lipoprotein metabolism. The role of menopausal status in
this association has not been extensively studied. The aim of the present study is
to evaluate the association between lipid parameters and mild elevations of thyrotropin
(TSH), and whether menopause influences this relationship.
Study design
A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2,914 women (aged 14–102 years)
from the SardiNIA study.
Main outcome measures
The association of TSH with blood lipid levels was examined using regression analyses,
according to menopausal status.
Results
Postmenopausal women had lower serum TSH concentrations and higher levels of total
cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDLc), and triglycerides than did premenopausal women (p = 0.001 or less for all). In premenopausal women, after adjusting for the confounders
age, BMI, smoking, insulin and glycaemia, TSH showed a direct relation to the levels
of total cholesterol (β = 0.046, p = 0.010), LDLc (β = 0.044, p = 0.016) and triglycerides (β = 0.085, p < 0.001), but no association with HDLc level. In the postmenopausal group, TSH was directly
associated only with triglyceride levels (β = 0.103, p = 0.014).
Conclusions
The association between mild elevation of TSH and lipid levels is influenced by menopausal
status. Further research is needed to clarify this finding.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 13, 2016
Accepted:
July 7,
2016
Received in revised form:
May 19,
2016
Received:
February 26,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
