title: Thyroid dysfunction in obese pre-pubertal children: oxidative stress as a potential pathogenetic mechanism.
abstract: Although a relationship between obesity and hyperthyrotropinemia has been hypothesized in obese children, the underlying pathogenesis is not completely known. In the current cross-sectional study, we evaluated the thyroid function in a group of 80 obese pre-pubertal children compared to 41 healthy normal weight peers, exploring the possible association between hyperthyrotropinemia and oxidative stress. In all children, thyrotropin (TSH), free T4 (fT4), free T3 (fT3) and anti-thyroid antibodies were evaluated. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) level was evaluated as index of insulin resistance. We measured the endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and the urinary prostaglandin F2α (PGF-2α) as markers of oxidative stress. We found that TSH levels were significantly higher in obese children than controls. TSH significantly correlated with body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), HOMA-IR, PGF-2α, esRAGE and sRAGE. The multiple linear regression showed that in obese children HOMA-IR, PGF-2α, esRAGE and sRAGE were significantly related to TSH, independently of BMI-SDS, age and gender. In obese children, hyperthyrotropinemia could be detected already in pre-pubertal age. The increased oxidative stress might represent one of the key regulators of TSH levels, early in life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Ospedale Policlinico, Via dei Vestini 5, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Ebe
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Adamo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Leonibus
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corazzini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Remigis
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohn
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011627:Puberty; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D015237:Dinoprost