Thyrotropin serum levels are differentially associated with biochemical markers of bone turnover and stiffness in women and men: results from the SHIP cohorts.
In two large German population-based cohorts, we showed positive associations between serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations and the Fracture Risk Assessment score (FRAX) in men and positive associations between TSH concentrations and bone turnover markers in women.


BACKGROUND
The role of thyroid hormones on bone stiffness and turnover is poorly defined. Existing studies are confounded by differences in design and small sample size. We assessed the association between TSH serum concentrations and bone stiffness and turnover in the SHIP cohorts, which are two population-based cohorts from a region in Northern Germany comprising 2654 men and women and 3261 men and women, respectively.


METHODS
We calculated the bone stiffness index using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the calcaneus, employed FRAX score for assessment of major osteoporotic fractures, and measured bone turnover markers, N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin, and type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX) in all subjects and sclerostin in a representative subgroup.


RESULTS
There was no association between TSH concentrations and the stiffness index in both genders. In men, TSH correlated positively with the FRAX score both over the whole TSH range (p < 0.01) and within the reference TSH range (p < 0.01). There were positive associations between TSH concentrations and P1NP, BAP, osteocalcin, and CTX (p < 0.01) in women but not in men. There was no significant association between TSH and sclerostin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
TSH serum concentrations are associated with gender-specific changes in bone turnover and stiffness.
Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
E
E
Tsourdi
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.|Schwerpunktpraxis für Diabetes und Hormonerkrankungen, Erfurt, Germany.
H
H
Wallaschofski
Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
M
M
Rauner
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
M
M
Nauck
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
M
M
Pietzner
Institute of Physiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Karlsburg, Germany.
R
R
Rettig
Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
T
T
Ittermann
Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
H
H
Völzke
Functional Genomics Laboratory, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
U
U
Völker
Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. lorenz.hofbauer@uniklinikum-dresden.de.|Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. lorenz.hofbauer@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
L C
LC
Hofbauer
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
A
A
Hannemann
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers; D013972:Thyrotropin
Bone remodeling; Bone stiffness; Sclerostin; Thyroid hormones