Menopause modulates the association between thyrotropin levels and lipid parameters: The SardiNIA study.
OBJECTIVE
Thyroid hormone influences lipoprotein metabolism. The role of menopausal status in this association has not been extensively studied. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association between lipid parameters and mild elevations of thyrotropin (TSH), and whether menopause influences this relationship.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2,914 women (aged 14-102 years) from the SardiNIA study.


METHODS
The association of TSH with blood lipid levels was examined using regression analyses, according to menopausal status.


RESULTS
Postmenopausal women had lower serum TSH concentrations and higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and triglycerides than did premenopausal women (p=0.001 or less for all). In premenopausal women, after adjusting for the confounders age, BMI, smoking, insulin and glycaemia, TSH showed a direct relation to the levels of total cholesterol (β=0.046, p=0.010), LDLc (β=0.044, p=0.016) and triglycerides (β=0.085, p<0.001), but no association with HDLc level. In the postmenopausal group, TSH was directly associated only with triglyceride levels (β=0.103, p=0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
The association between mild elevation of TSH and lipid levels is influenced by menopausal status. Further research is needed to clarify this finding.
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: aledelitala@tiscali.it.
Alessandro P
AP
Delitala
Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, c/o Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
Maristella
M
Steri
Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, c/o Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
Maria Grazia
MG
Pilia
Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, c/o Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
Mariano
M
Dei
Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, c/o Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
Sandra
S
Lai
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Delitala
National Institute on Aging, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, USA.
David
D
Schlessinger
Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, c/o Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Francesco
F
Cucca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002784:Cholesterol
Cholesterol; Estrogen; Menopause; Subclinical hypothyroidism; TSH