Relationship between caffeine intake and thyroid function: results from NHANES 2007-2012

[helvella]

Coffee and other caffeine-containing drinks have often been discussed.

Of course, the usual issue of TSH being taken as a proxy for thyroid function.

Nutr J. 2023 Jul 26;22(1):36.

doi: 10.1186/s12937-023-00866-5.

Relationship between caffeine intake and thyroid function: results from NHANES 2007-2012

Jiaping Zheng 1 , Xinyan Zhu 2 , Guiqing Xu 1 , Xingchen Wang 1 , Mengyang Cao 1 , Shusen Zhu 3 , Rui Huang 4 , Yu Zhou 5

PMID: 37491267 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-023-00866-5

Abstract

Background: Moderate caffeine intake decreases the risk of metabolic disorders and all-cause mortality, and the mechanism may be related to its ergogenic actions. Thyroid hormones are vital in metabolic homeostasis; however, their association with caffeine intake has rarely been explored.

Objective: To investigate the association between caffeine intake and thyroid function.

Methods: We collected data on demographic background, medical conditions, dietary intake, and thyroid function from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012. Subgroups were classified using two-step cluster analysis, with sex, age, body mass index (BMI), hyperglycemia, hypertension, and cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CVD) being used for clustering. Restrictive cubic spline analysis was employed to investigate potential nonlinear correlations, and multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between caffeine consumption and thyroid function.

Results: A total of 2,582 participants were included, and three subgroups with different metabolic features were clustered. In the most metabolically unhealthy group, with the oldest age, highest BMI, and more cases of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and CVD, there was a nonlinear relationship between caffeine intake and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. After adjusting for age, sex, race, drinking, smoking, medical conditions, and micronutrient and macronutrient intake, caffeine intake of less than 9.97 mg/d was positively associated with serum TSH (p = 0.035, standardized β = 0.155); however, moderate caffeine consumption (9.97-264.97 mg/d) indicated a negative association (p = 0.001, standardized β = - 0.152).

Conclusions: Caffeine consumption had a nonlinear relationship with serum TSH in people with metabolic disorders, and moderate caffeine intake (9.97 ~ 264.97 mg/d) was positively associated with serum TSH.

Keywords: Caffeine; Metabolism; NHANES; Thyroid.

Abstract:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/374...

Open Access:

nutritionj.biomedcentral.co...

And enjoy:

youtu.be/eMJS0ti6P0s(Not working as expected?)

[RedApple Administrator]

Ok, bit brain fogged today, so can we simplify this please... does this study mean I should drink more coffee?... she asks hoping the answer is yes 🤣

[Alanna012 in reply to RedApple]

A girl would like to know, yes. Eyes kettle as I type.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

If you only consume tiny amounts of caffeine, TSH tends slightly upwards.

If you consume a moderate amount of caffeine, TSH tends to be lower.

The lowest caffeine intake were the metabolically least healthy.

But was that because those with identified metabolic issues tended to consume less caffeine-laden soft drinks?

And this observation:

Pietzner demonstrated a strong positive association between serum levels of 3,5-T2 (a metabolite of thyroxine and triiodo-L-thyronine) and serum caffeine metabolites, indicating that thyroid hormones are involved in the possible molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of caffeine.

[Alanna012 in reply to helvella]

Off for a cuppa now, thanks

[Ebx_design]

On caffeine...

Something that I have only recently learned, as an avid tea drinker, is the amount of fluoride in the common breakfast tea (seriously, google it - it puts toothpaste to shame!). An aside from this study, but another reason for us to be mindful of how much we consume - Dr. Peatfield outlines this in his book. I paraphrase but: fluoride displaces all other halogens in the body (bromine, chlorine AND iodine), and we know that thyroid meds contain iodine, therefore it makes sense that excessive tea drinking could also impair thyroid meds efficacy :/

[TiggerMe in reply to Ebx_design]

I knew I used to drink white tea for a reason! 😕

Decaff is even higher in fluoride!

I do now at least have Jack Russell approved drinking water now the lead pipe has been replaced... dogs know best 🐶

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There is plenty to suggest that fluoride is an issue. But I think that displacement according to electro-negativity is not the complete picture.

This is a search which should find many more recent papers on the subject:

europepmc.org/search?query=...

Excessive tea drinking also causes dental fluorosis - clear evidence that fluoride is being taken up.

[Blissful in reply to helvella]

Excessive tea drinking using poisoned/tampered with water might be more of an issue:

althealthworks.com/what-is-...

Industrial fluoride calcifies our pineal gland.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Blissful]

Sorry - that page tracks me to facebook so I'll not be reading it.

[Blissful in reply to helvella]

I don't blame you! (do you mean it asks for a Faceache Log in?) On my copy, there were clickable links to faceache, twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest)

"Magnesium and especially calcium are known as minerals that counteract the effects of fluoride, an example of how nature often pairs antidotes with poisons or designs complete foods that mitigate harmful substances for the most part."

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Blissful]

I have a facebook blocker and any page which tries to pass things on to them get blocked immediately. I could choose to go past it, but I don't!

Indeed - I have two! One a specific Firefox add-in and the other part of using DuckDuckGo for searches.

facebook blocker