Low Levels of Serum Vitamin D3 are Associated with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Pre-Menopausal Women

[helvella]

No idea what to make of this - except to say, vitamin D does seem to be linked to thyroid issues in complicated ways!

Thyroid. 2013 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Low Levels of Serum Vitamin D3 are Associated with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Pre-Menopausal Women.

Choi YM, Kim WG, Kim TY, Bae SJ, Kim HK, Jang EK, Jeon M, Han JM, Lee SH, Baek JH, Shong Y, Kim WB.

Source

Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of ; [e-mail].

Abstract

Background: Low serum vitamin D level has been associated with several autoimmune diseases, but its association with thyroid autoimmunity is unclear. We evaluated the association of serum vitamin D level with the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).

Methods: Our cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent routine health check-ups, which included assays of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), as well as thyroid ultrasonography (US) between 2008 and 2012 at Asan Medical Center. We defined AITD according to the level of TPO-Ab and US findings. Results: Total 6,685 subjects (Male, 58%; Female, 42%) were enrolled for this study. Overall prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity and both TPO-Ab/US positivity were 10.1% (Male, 6.3%; Female, 15.3%) and 5.4% (Male, 2.3%; Female, 9.7%), respectively. In female subjects, mean serum 25(OH)D3 levels were significantly lower in TPO-Ab(+) (22.0 vs. 23.5 ng/mL, P=0.030), and TPO-Ab(+)/US(+) group (21.6 vs. 23.4 ng/mL, P=0.027) as compared with corresponding control group, respectively. According to the level of serum 25(OH)D3, the prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity (21.2%, 15.5% and 12.6% in deficient, insufficient, and sufficient group, respectively, P=0.001) and both TPO-Ab/US positivity (14.7%, 9.9% and 7.1% in deficient, insufficient, and sufficient group, respectively, P<0.001) was decreased in female subjects. Interestingly, this pattern was significant only in pre-menopausal women (P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively), but not in post-menopausal women. Multivariate analysis indicated that the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for AITD among those in the 25(OH)D3-deficient (TPO-Ab(+); OR=1.95, P=0.001 and TPO-Ab(+)/US(+); OR=2.36, P<0.001), and -insufficient group (TPO-Ab(+); OR=1.31, P=0.043 and TPO-Ab(+)/US(+); OR=1.50, P=0.017) were significantly increased when compared with -sufficient group.

Conclusions: The level of serum vitamin D was significantly lower in pre-menopausal women with AITD. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were significantly associated with AITD in pre-menopausal women.

PMID: 24320141 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/243...

Sadly, in common with most papers, the full version is behind a paywall.

Rod

Image is of the paywall demand for this paper. Only 51 US dollars to view it for 24hours...

[PinkNinja]

The price is shocking!

Thanks for posting. I just found out the my brother also has issues with vitamin D even though he tends to go to hot, sunny places on holiday and does a lot of hiking and other outdoor activities. After supplementing for several weeks at a significant dose, he was just below range. I definitely have an issue with vitamin D and am on high doses again. I'm gradually feeling better and losing weight again. I'm going to suggest to my brother that he get his thyroid antibodies checked. He has the sort of GP who will check anything he asks, which is how he found out he had a vitamin D issue in the first place. Obviously, he's not a pre-menopausal woman but it may be significant for men too.

Carolyn x

[Hidden]

Low VitD is significant for everyone in the northern hemisphere (and probably southern too!) we simply do not get enough sun or told to avoid it nowadays (or even consume enough fish!). On a personal note, supplementing has made a huge difference to my joint pain and general well being (and my daughter who was deficient, and her children).

Advice to doctors from Chief medical officer ('at risk' groups)

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Osteoporosis & Vit D

nos.org.uk/document.doc?id=...

There is also a pinned post by Redapple & leaflet - but I cannot find it! J

got it

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Clutter]

My VitD was <10 in November. The fibro symptoms and pain stopped when I stopped taking T4 and before i knew i was deficient. I have pain in the trapezius and masseter muscles which may or may not be connected, but thats it. Im post menopausal having had early menopause at age 42.