Serena Tonstad1, Edward Nathan1, Keiji Oda2, Gary E Fraser3. 1. 1Department of Health Promotion and Education,School of Public Health,Loma Linda University,24951 N. Circle Drive,Nichol Hall Room 1519,Loma Linda,CA 92354,USA. 2. 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Loma Linda University,Loma Linda,CA,USA. 3. 3Department of Cardiology,School of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Loma Linda University,Loma Linda,CA,USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Vegetarian diets may be associated with low prevalence of autoimmune disease, as observed in rural sub-Saharan Africans. Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. We studied prevalence of hyperthyroidism according to dietary pattern in a population with a high proportion of vegetarians. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prevalence study. The association between diet and prevalence of hyperthyroidism was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and salt use. SETTING: The Adventist Health Study-2 conducted in the USA and Canada. SUBJECTS: Church members (n 65 981) provided demographic, dietary, lifestyle and medical history data by questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported hyperthyroidism was 0·9 %. Male gender (OR=0·32; 95 % CI 0·26, 0·41) and moderate or high income (OR=0·67; 95 % CI 0·52, 0·88 and OR=0·73; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·91, respectively) protected against hyperthyroidism, while obesity and prevalent CVD were associated with increased risk (OR=1·25; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·54 and OR=1·92; 95 % CI 1·53, 2·42, respectively). Vegan, lacto-ovo and pesco vegetarian diets were associated with lower risk compared with omnivorous diets (OR=0·49; 95 % CI 0·33, OR=0·72, 0·65; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·81 and OR=0·74; 95 % CI 0·56, 1·00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusion of all animal foods was associated with half the prevalence of hyperthyroidism compared with omnivorous diets. Lacto-ovo and pesco vegetarian diets were associated with intermediate protection. Further study of potential mechanisms is warranted.
OBJECTIVE: Vegetarian diets may be associated with low prevalence of autoimmune disease, as observed in rural sub-Saharan Africans. Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. We studied prevalence of hyperthyroidism according to dietary pattern in a population with a high proportion of vegetarians. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prevalence study. The association between diet and prevalence of hyperthyroidism was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and salt use. SETTING: The Adventist Health Study-2 conducted in the USA and Canada. SUBJECTS: Church members (n 65 981) provided demographic, dietary, lifestyle and medical history data by questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported hyperthyroidism was 0·9 %. Male gender (OR=0·32; 95 % CI 0·26, 0·41) and moderate or high income (OR=0·67; 95 % CI 0·52, 0·88 and OR=0·73; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·91, respectively) protected against hyperthyroidism, while obesity and prevalent CVD were associated with increased risk (OR=1·25; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·54 and OR=1·92; 95 % CI 1·53, 2·42, respectively). Vegan, lacto-ovo and pesco vegetarian diets were associated with lower risk compared with omnivorous diets (OR=0·49; 95 % CI 0·33, OR=0·72, 0·65; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·81 and OR=0·74; 95 % CI 0·56, 1·00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusion of all animal foods was associated with half the prevalence of hyperthyroidism compared with omnivorous diets. Lacto-ovo and pesco vegetarian diets were associated with intermediate protection. Further study of potential mechanisms is warranted.
Authors: Rebecca S Bahn Chair; Henry B Burch; David S Cooper; Jeffrey R Garber; M Carol Greenlee; Irwin Klein; Peter Laurberg; I Ross McDougall; Victor M Montori; Scott A Rivkees; Douglas S Ross; Julie Ann Sosa; Marius N Stan Journal: Thyroid Date: 2011-04-21 Impact factor: 6.568
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