title: Association of thyroid hormones with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Japanese children.
abstract: Obesity is associated with health consequences, and thyroid dysfunction may be an adaption to the increased energy expenditure in obesity. With the rising prevalence of obesity in childhood, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome may also increase. In the current study, we have shown gender differences in the association of thyroid hormones with obesity, and attempted to elucidate the relationship between thyroid hormones and anthropometric parameters and biochemical data in obese Japanese children. We analyzed anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body composition, thyroid hormones, and lipid profiles in 283 obese children. The association between thyroid hormones and several parameters differed by gender. The free T3 to free T4 ratio (fT3/fT4) in boys was negatively associated with the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, whereas in girls, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were positively correlated with levels of glucose, diastolic blood pressure, and non-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and fT3/fT4 was positively correlated with uric acid levels. FT3/fT4 in boys with metabolic syndrome was relatively higher than in those without metabolic syndrome. The cause of gender differences is unknown. Therefore, further studies with larger sample sizes and a long-term follow-up period are needed to address the influence of thyroid hormones on various parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, 1-2 Kawazonocho, Suita, Osaka 564-0013, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hirakata City Hospital, 2-14-1 Kinyahonmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1013, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okasora
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
keywords: children; metabolic syndrome; obesity; thyroid hormone