Thermogenic effect of thyroid hormones: interactions with epinephrine and insulin

The interactions between thyroid hormones, epinephrine, and insulin in the regulation of energy expenditure were investigated in a group of healthy young men before and after thyroxine (T4) treatment (300 micrograms/day for 14 days) at basal plasma insulin concentrations and during hypoinsulinemia with and without epinephrine infusion (0.05 micrograms.kg fat-free mass-1.min-1). T4 treatment induced moderate hyperthyroidism and increased resting energy expenditure (RMR). The effect was more pronounced during short-term hypoinsulinemia, but hypoinsulinemia by itself did not influence RMR. Epinephrine infusion caused a significant increase in energy expenditure. The effect was most pronounced at hypoinsulinemia and with T4 treatment. Hypoinsulinemia and T4 treatment were not additive in their effects. We conclude that basal insulin concentrations mask some of the thermogenic effects of thyroid hormones and epinephrine. Thus insulin antagonism may suppress some of the thermogenic actions of thyroid hormones and epinephrine.