Association between different obesity phenotypes and hypothyroidism: a study based on a longitudinal health management cohort

Exploring the link between obesity and hypothyroidism in autoimmune thyroid diseases: a metabolic perspective

Background: The management of primary hypothyroidism demands a comprehensive approach that encompasses both the implications of autoimmune thyroid disease and the distinct effects posed by obesity and metabolic irregularities. Despite its clinical importance, the interplay between obesity and hypothyroidism, especially in the context of metabolic perspectives, is insufficiently explored in existing research. This study endeavors to classify hypothyroidism by considering the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease and to examine its correlation with various metabolic obesity phenotypes. Method: This research was conducted by analyzing data from 1,170 individuals enrolled in the Thyroid Disease Database of Shandong Provincial Hospital. We assessed four distinct metabolic health statuses among the participants: Metabolically Healthy No Obese Metabolically Healthy Obese Metabolically Unhealthy No Obese and Metabolically Unhealthy Obese Utilizing logistic regression, we investigated the association between various metabolic obesity phenotypes and hypothyroidism. Results: The study revealed a significant correlation between the Metabolically Unhealthy Obese (MUO) phenotype and hypothyroidism, particularly among women who do not have thyroid autoimmunity. Notably, the Metabolically Unhealthy No Obese (MUNO) phenotype showed a significant association with hypothyroidism in individuals with thyroid autoimmunity, with a pronounced prevalence in women. Furthermore, elevated levels of triglycerides and blood glucose were found to be significantly associated with hypothyroidism in men with thyroid autoimmunity and in women without thyroid autoimmunity. Conclusion: Effective treatment of hypothyroidism requires a thorough understanding of the process of thyroid autoimmune development. In patients without concurrent thyroid autoimmunity, there is a notable correlation between obesity and metabolic issues with reduced thyroid function. Conversely, for patients with thyroid autoimmunity, a focused approach on managing metabolic abnormalities, especially triglyceride levels, is crucial.

Causal association between obesity and hypothyroidism: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Introduction

Previous observational studies have reported a positive correlation between obesity and susceptibility to hypothyroidism; however, there is limited evidence from alternative methodologies to establish a causal link.

Methods

We investigated the causal relationship between obesity and hypothyroidism using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity-related traits were extracted from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) of European individuals. Summarized diagnostic data of hypothyroidism were obtained from the UK Biobank. Primary analyses were conducted using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method with a random-effects model as well as three complementary approaches. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ascertain the correlation between obesity and hypothyroidism.

Results

MR analyses of the IVW method and the analyses of hypothyroidism/myxedema indicated that body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were significantly associated with higher odds and risk of hypothyroidism. Reverse MR analysis demonstrated that a genetic predisposition to hypothyroidism was associated with an increased risk of elevated BMI and WC, which was not observed between WC adjusted for BMI (WCadjBMI) and hypothyroidism.

Discussion

Our current study indicates that obesity is a risk factor for hypothyroidism, suggesting that individuals with higher BMI/WC have an increased risk of developing hypothyroidism and indicating the importance of weight loss in reducing the risk of hypothyroidism.

Visual analysis of obesity and hypothyroidism: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity is gradually increasing and is closely associated with hypothyroidism. It is of research interest to explore the association between obesity and hypothyroidism and the current status of research.

METHODS

We chose the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database as the data source and searched to obtain relevant literature on obesity and hypothyroidism. And we used CiteSpace and VOSviewer to analyze the related literature.

RESULTS

A total of 508 articles were included in the literature, with an overall increasing trend in the number of publications. There were 170 relevant countries or organizations, and the United States was the country with the most publications. There were 1742 related organizations, and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) was the organization with the most publications. There are 3015 authors involved, and there is a clear collaboration between authors. There are 227 related journals and J CLIN ENDOCR METAB is the most cited journal. The most frequently occurring keywords were obesity and hypothyroidism, but also other related topics such as bariatric surgery, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, body mass index, and leptin.

CONCLUSION

The research related to obesity and hypothyroidism is gradually gaining attention, and the research direction is gradually expanding to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, leptin, and other related topics.

Hypothyroidism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A coincidence or a causal relationship?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global problem. It may be caused by metabolic and hormonal disorders, including hypothyroidism. However, non-thyroid causes of NAFLD in people with hypothyroidism, including improper eating behavior and low physical activity, should be acknowledged. This study aimed to present the current literature on whether the development of NAFLD is related to hypothyroidism or a typical consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle in people with hypothyroidism. The results of previous studies do not allow for an unequivocal determination of the pathogenetic relationship between hypothyroidism and NAFLD. Important non-thyroid-initiating factors include providing too many calories in relation to requirements, consuming excessive amounts of monosaccharides and saturated fats, being overweight, and maintaining low physical activity levels. The recommended nutritional model for both hypothyroidism and NAFLD may be the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E.

Association between Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes and the Burden of Hospitalized Postmenopausal Patients Concomitant with Osteoporosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on the National Readmission Database

BACKGROUND

The present definition of obesity based on body mass index (BMI) is not accurate and effective enough to identify hospitalized patients with a heavier burden, especially for postmenopausal hospitalized patients concomitant with osteoporosis. The link between common concomitant disorders of major chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS) remains unclear. Here, we aim to evaluate the impact of different metabolic obesity phenotypes on the burden of postmenopausal hospitalized patients concomitant with osteoporosis in view of unplanned readmissions.

METHODS

Data was acquired from the National Readmission Database 2018. The study population was classified into metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO), metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) patients. We estimated the associations between metabolic obesity phenotypes and 30- and 90-day unplanned readmissions. A multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards (PH) model was used to assess the effect of factors on endpoints, with results expressed as HR and 95% CI.

RESULTS

The 30-day and 90-day readmission rates for the MUNO and MUO phenotypes were higher than that of the MHNO group (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found between the MHNO and MHO groups. For 30-day readmissions, MUNO raised the risk mildly (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.110, p < 0.001), MHO had a higher risk (HR = 1.145, p = 0.002), and MUO further elevated this risk (HR = 1.238, p < 0.001). As for 90-day readmissions, both MUNO and MHO raised the risk slightly (HR = 1.134, p < 0.001; HR = 1.093, p = 0.014, respectively), and MUO had the highest risk (HR = 1.263, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic abnormalities were associated with elevated rates and risks of 30- or 90-day readmission among postmenopausal hospitalized women complicated with osteoporosis, whereas obesity did not seem to be innocent, and the combination of these factors led to an additional burden on healthcare systems and individuals. These findings indicate that clinicians and researchers should focus not only on weight management but also metabolism intervention among patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Association between different metabolic phenotypes of obesity and thyroid disorders among Chinese adults: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Background

Increased body mass index (BMI) and metabolic abnormalities both have potential associations with thyroid disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between different metabolic phenotypes of obesity and thyroid disorders using nationwide data from China.

Methods

Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey called the Thyroid Disorders, Iodine Status, and Diabetes Epidemiological Survey conducted between 2015 and 2017 in China. A total of 69007 subjects aged 18 years or older were defined and divided into six groups on the basis of BMI and metabolic health status: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW), metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUOW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals [CIs] for different thyroid disorders according to metabolic phenotypes using multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

In our study, we found that the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was almost as high in the MUNW group as in the MUO group, the prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism was highest in the MUNW group and Graves' disease was highest in the MHO group. Our results also suggested that the prevalence of goiter and thyroid nodules increased with increased BMI values and that the MUO group had the highest incidence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that subjects with unhealthy metabolic phenotypes (MUNW, MUOW, and MUO) all had an increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism, regardless of their BMI. MUNW subjects had an approximately 1.6-fold higher risk of overt hyperthyroidism and a 1.8-fold higher risk of Graves' disease than their metabolically healthy counterparts (MHNW). The present study also demonstrated that the MUO group had the highest risk of goiter and thyroid nodules among the metabolic phenotypes of obesity.

Conclusion

Based on our study, we found that metabolic abnormalities and obesity play different roles in various thyroid diseases. Metabolically unhealthy individuals, both with and without obesity, have a higher risk of thyroid disorders than metabolically healthy individuals without obesity.

Association between different metabolic phenotypes and the development of hypothyroidism: 9 years follow-up of Tehran thyroid study

PURPOSE

The association between metabolic phenotypes and thyroid function has not yet been established; therefore, this study examined whether different metabolic phenotypes are associated with the development of hypothyroidism.

METHODS

Study participants were selected from the Tehran Thyroid Study (TTS). A total of 3338 euthyroid adults were included and categorized into four obesity phenotype groups: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). The participants were assessed at baseline and during three follow-up studies at three-year intervals. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between metabolic phenotypes and the development of hypothyroidism.

RESULTS

In the total population, the chi-square test was only significant (P=0.008) in 3^rd year with a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in the MUNW phenotype, followed by MHO, MUO, and MHNW. Moreover, in the 3^rd and 9^th years of follow-up, hypothyroidism was more prevalent in MUO only in male subjects (P=0.002 and 0.035, respectively). In the unadjusted model, the MHO phenotype increased the odds of hypothyroidism compared with the MHNW phenotype (OR=1.51; 95% CI=1.04, 2.18; P-value=0.031). After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds of hypothyroidism were higher in the MUNW (OR=1.86; 95% CI=1.17, 2.96; P-value=0.008), MHO (OR=1.71; 95% CI=1.09, 2.67; P-value=0.018), and MUO (OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.03, 2.62; P-value=0.036) phenotypes than in the MHNW group. The MUNW phenotype increased the risk of hypothyroidism compared to MHNW, only in males. However, in females, the MHO phenotype increased the risk of hypothyroidism compared to MHNW.

CONCLUSION

Both obesity and metabolic abnormalities are associated with hyperthyroidism. Healthy metabolic and weight maintenance were associated with a lower risk of hypothyroidism in males and females.

Adipocyte signaling affects thyroid-specific gene expression via down-regulation of TTF-2/FOXE1

Obesity affects thyroid gland function. Hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer are more frequent in patients with higher BMI values. Although these data are supported by many clinical and epidemiological studies, our knowledge is very scarce at the molecular level. In this study, we present the first experimental evidence that adipocyte signaling downregulates the expression of thyroid-specific transcription factor 2 (TTF-2/FoxE1). It plays a crucial role in thyroid development and thyroid homeostasis and it is strictly connected to thyroid cancer as well. We provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that inhibition of TTF-2/FoxE1 gene expression is mediated by adipocyte signaling.

Gender-Specific Impact of Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes on the Risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A Retrospective Data Analysis Using a Health Check-Up Database

Background

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is recognized as the most common autoimmune thyroid disease, often accompanied by the diffuse enlargement of thyroid with abundant blood flow and elevated level of thyroid autoantibodies. As obesity had a positive association with the risk of HT. Thus, this retrospective study was established to further explore the gender relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes and the risk of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT).

Materials and Methods

Data for 3697 subjects aged ≥18 years were randomly collected from a Health check-up database from April to December 2019. Obesity was defined by general obesity (GO; body mass index [BMI] ≥28 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (AO; waist circumstance, male ≥90 cm, female ≥85 cm). Metabolic unhealthy was defined as having at least one metabolic syndrome component and a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ≥2.5. Obesity phenotypes were divided into three groups: GO, AO, compound obesity (GO+AO). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between metabolic obesity phenotypes and risk of HT by sex and explore the correlation between different obesity patterns and HT risk by metabolic health status.

Results

The incidence of HT was 23.5% and significantly higher among females than males with different metabolic phenotypes (26.2% vs 20.5%, p<0.05), except metabolically healthy AO. Compared with non-obese subjects, different metabolic obesity phenotypes were independent risk factors among males (p<0.05). Among females, unhealthy metabolic status with GO (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=2.62) or AO (adjusted OR=2.87) and metabolically healthy non-GO (adjusted OR=2.05) were risk factors of HT (p<0.05). Increasing BMI categories and waist circumstance quartiles were positively correlated with HT risk (p for trend <0.05). Subgroup analyses indicated that GO+AO (adjusted OR=2.52) or only AO (adjusted OR=2.41) were risk factors for HT for those with unhealthy metabolic status. Moreover, GO+AO (adjusted OR=2.37) was an independent risk factor for HT under healthy metabolic status.

Conclusion

GO+AO was associated with an increased risk of HT, identifying higher BMI/WC as a significant risk factor for HT. Males with unhealthy metabolic state or obesity and metabolically unhealthy females with obesity are high-risk group for HT. Additionally, only AO and GO+AO conferred increased risk of HT for individuals with metabolic abnormalities.