The Thyroid/Cholesterol Connection in the News
It's another one of the many controversies in thyroid diagnosis and treatment. Does mild hypothyroidism, or even TSH that is higher but within the normal range, negatively affect your cholesterol and other lipid levels...which then increases your risk for heart problems?Now, journals from both sides of the pond, the European Journal of Endocrinology, and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism weigh in on the issue with separate research studies.
Researchers have demonstrated that, even for TSH levels that are considered "clinically normal" -- a higher TSH is significantly connected to unfavorable changes in total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL cholesterol triglycerides.
Source: Åsvold, Bjørn et. al. "The association between TSH within the reference range and serum lipid concentrations in a population-based study. The HUNT Study" European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 156, Issue 2, 181-186
Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol -- known as non-HDL-C -- has recently emerged as an important predictor of heart disease. Non-HDL-C measures total cholesterol less HDL. Given the connection between hypothyroidism and elevated levels of cholesterol, researchers looked at the effects of thyroid hormone replacement -- using levothyroxine -- on the non-HDL-C in people with both overt and subclinical (mild) hypothyroidism. The study found, for the first time, that thyroid hormone replacement therapy helps to reduce the non-HDL-C levels in both overt and subclinically hypothyroid patients.
Ito, Mitsuru et. al. "Effect of Levo-Thyroxine Replacement on Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Hypothyroid Patients," The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 92, No. 2 608-611
Learn More About the Thyroid/Cholesterol Connection
Comments
i would like to if thyroid cause swelling of the face ? i have a lot of swelling of the face and i have had hest run nothing show up to the cause of my face to contiune swelling . i have had sinus sirgery twice. and my face still bad and i was just wondering if they has something to do with it ido have a thyroid problem. please e-mail me back with and answer to my question thank you very much look forward to hearing from you soon. thanks again karen schmidt