Role of Adipokines in the Association between Thyroid Hormone and Components of the Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases cardiovascular risk. The role of thyroid hormone on components of MS is unclear. We analyzed a sample of 4733 euthyroid subjects from SardiNIA study. In female thyrotropin (TSH) was significantly and positively associated with triglycerides (Standardized regression coefficients (β) = 0.081, p < 0.001). Free thyroxine (FT4) was positively associated with HDL (β = 0.056, p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (β = 0.059, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = 0.044, p < 0.01), and fasting glucose (β = 0.046, p < 0.01). Conversely, FT4 showed a negative association with waist circumference (β = -0.052, p < 0.001). In TSH was positively associated with triglycerides (β = 0.111, p = <0.001) and FT4 showed a positive association with DBP (β = 0.51, p < 0.01). The addition of leptin and adiponectin to the regression models did not substantially change the impact of thyroid hormones on components of MS. Our data suggest that, even within the euthyroid range, excess of truncal adipose tissue is associated with variations in FT4. Leptin and adiponectin exert an additive effect rather than a causal effect. Additional studies should be performed to determine the clinical significance of this finding.