title: Thyroid Function and Thyroid Autoimmunity in Relation to Weight Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents: A Population-Based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In obese subjects, slight increases have been observed in thyrotropin [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)] levels, but data in children are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thyroid function and autoimmunity vary with weight status in a healthy population of children and adolescents and to determine whether hyperthyrotropinemia is associated with any cardiovascular risk factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Almería (Spain) on a representative sample of 1317 healthy subjects aged 2-16 years. Thyroid function, thyroid autoimmunity and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. Chi-square test, analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used in the statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obese children and adolescents had thyrotropin levels (mean ± standard deviation) of 3.12±2.44 mU/L. These levels were higher than those of overweight subjects (2.79±1.51 mU/L) and of normal weight subjects (2.73±1.30 mU/L) (p=0.02). Levels of free thyroxine and urinary iodine did not differ significantly between the groups. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of thyroid autoimmunity was lower in the individuals with normal weight (2.9%; 2.0-4.2) than in the overweight (6.3%; 3.9-9.9) and obese subjects (5.6%, 2.5-11.3) (p=0.02). TSH levels were associated with obesity (β=0.36; p<0.001) and thyroid autoimmunity (β=1.10; p<0.001). They were not associated with any cardiovascular risk factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese children and adolescents had higher levels of thyrotropin than those who were overweight and of normal weight. The differences among the groups were of very little clinical significance and could possibly be linked to the higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in obese subjects. The hyperthyrotropinemia in these subjects was not associated with any cardiovascular risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Torrecárdenas, Clinic of Pediatrics, Almeria, Spain Phone: +34 605076059 E-mail: ejgg67@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vázquez-López
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Fuentes
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galera-Martínez
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Repiso
authors.forename: Icíar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Escobar
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonillo-Perales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin