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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Low TSH levels are not associated with osteoporosis in childhood
Anastasios Papadimitriou1, Dimitrios T Papadimitriou, Anna Papadopoulou
1Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Third Department of Pediatrics, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Rinini 1, Haidari, Athens 124 62, Greece. anpapad@med.uoa.gr
Introduction:
A recent study on TSH receptor (TSHR) null mice suggested that skeletal loss occurring in hyperthyroidism is caused by the low TSH rather than high thyroid hormone levels. The aim of this study was to examine whether low TSH results in osteoporosis in the human.
Subjects And Methods:
We determined bone mineral density (BMD) and markers of bone metabolism in two male siblings aged 9.8 and 6.8 years with isolated TSH deficiency, due to a mutation of the TSH beta-subunit gene. BMD was measured in the lumbar spine (L1-L4) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Laboratory investigation included the determination of serum calcium, phosphate, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, parathyroid hormone concentrations, and urine calcium (Ca)/creatinine (Cr) ratio. Osteoblast activity was measured by serum bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels, and osteoclast activity by urine cross-linked amino-terminal, carboxy-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and deoxypyridinoline concentrations.
Results:
BMD of both patients was within the normal range for age and sex; z-scores were -0.55 and -0.23 for patients 1 and 2 respectively. Serum calcium, phosphate, urine Ca/Cr ratio, and specific markers of bone metabolism were also within normal range.
Conclusion:
In childhood, chronic extremely low TSH levels, in the face of normal thyroid hormone levels, are not related to bone loss.
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