title: Association between serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and serum lipids in children and adolescents: a population-based study of german youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No studies have examined the association between TSH and lipid profiles of healthy children and adolescents in the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate the association between TSH and lipid profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a population-based cross-sectional study design and analyzed our results using multivariable regression models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from 6622 children (ages 3-10 y) and 6134 adolescents (ages 11-17 y) drawn from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected, and serum TSH levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence method. High and low serum TSH levels were defined according to age-specific reference limits for the assay. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels were determined with enzymatic color analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant positive association between TSH and all non-HDL parameters (total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides) in children (β = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-1.27; β = 0.78, 95% CI, 0.44-1.13; and β = 0.90, 95% CI, 0.52-1.27, respectively) and in adolescents (β = 0.90, 95% CI, 0.47-1.32; β = 0.67, 95% CI, 0.29-1.05; and β = 0.92, 95% CI, 0.49-1.35, respectively) (P < .05). Using stratified models, we found that this relationship was particularly present in overweight/obese children. Furthermore, high TSH levels in children were significantly associated with non-HDL parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher TSH levels are associated with less favorable lipid levels in children. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether the association between TSH and lipid parameters in children and adolescents is a temporary phenomenon or is sustained into adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine (T.W., T.I., H.V.), University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; Robert Koch Institute (M.T.), 13353 Berlin, Germany; and Veterans Affairs Medical Center (N.B.V.R.), White River Junction, Vermont 05009.
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ittermann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: Natalie B V
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Riblet
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D013972:Thyrotropin