Yunlu Sheng1, Dan Ma2, Qi Zhou3, Li Wang3, Minne Sun1, Siting Wang1, Hanmei Qi1, Jin Liu4, Guoxian Ding5, Yu Duan6. 1. Division of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Endocrinology, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan, Suzhou, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China. 4. Clinical Medicine Research Institution, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. 5. Division of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China. dinggx@njmu.edu.cn. 6. Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China. duanyu@medmail.com.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: With the increase in aging population worldwide, the incidence of sarcopenia is also increasing. Thyroid hormones are important regulators that can affect body composition and physical function. The association between thyroid hormone levels and sarcopenia in susceptible elderly euthyroid subjects remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of thyroid hormone concentrations on body muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function related to sarcopenia in elderly Chinese euthyroid subjects. METHODS: A total of 94 elderly Chinese euthyroid subjects (73 men, 21 women) without medications or diseases which obviously affected muscle metabolism or thyroid function were included in our study. Concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined by immunoassays. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Handgrip strength was measured using a Jamar hand dynamometer, and physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). RESULTS: Muscle function, both handgrip strength and SPPB, was negatively associated with age, and FT3 demonstrated age-dependent decline. Pearson's correlation analysis showed positive associations of FT3 with ASM, handgrip strength and SPPB. Neither FT4 nor TSH was associated with these parameters of sarcopenia in euthyroid subjects. Significantly positive correlations between FT3 and ASM, handgrip strength and SPPB were also observed in multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age, gender and BMI, while no significant correlations were found between FT4 or TSH and aforementioned four parameters of sarcopenia. Subjects with sarcopenia had lower level of FT3. CONCLUSIONS: Higher FT3 concentration within normal range was correlated to muscle mass and muscle function in elderly subjects.
OBJECTIVES: With the increase in aging population worldwide, the incidence of sarcopenia is also increasing. Thyroid hormones are important regulators that can affect body composition and physical function. The association between thyroid hormone levels and sarcopenia in susceptible elderly euthyroid subjects remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of thyroid hormone concentrations on body muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function related to sarcopenia in elderly Chinese euthyroid subjects. METHODS: A total of 94 elderly Chinese euthyroid subjects (73 men, 21 women) without medications or diseases which obviously affected muscle metabolism or thyroid function were included in our study. Concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined by immunoassays. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Handgrip strength was measured using a Jamar hand dynamometer, and physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). RESULTS: Muscle function, both handgrip strength and SPPB, was negatively associated with age, and FT3 demonstrated age-dependent decline. Pearson's correlation analysis showed positive associations of FT3 with ASM, handgrip strength and SPPB. Neither FT4 nor TSH was associated with these parameters of sarcopenia in euthyroid subjects. Significantly positive correlations between FT3 and ASM, handgrip strength and SPPB were also observed in multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age, gender and BMI, while no significant correlations were found between FT4 or TSH and aforementioned four parameters of sarcopenia. Subjects with sarcopenia had lower level of FT3. CONCLUSIONS: Higher FT3 concentration within normal range was correlated to muscle mass and muscle function in elderly subjects.
Authors: Agnieszka Guligowska; Zuzanna Chrzastek; Marek Pawlikowski; Malgorzata Pigłowska; Hanna Pisarek; Katarzyna Winczyk; Tomasz Kostka Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-12-24 Impact factor: 5.555