Relationship between serum TSH level with obesity and NAFLD in euthyroid subjects

To explore the relationship between serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in euthyroid subjects, 1322 subjects were subjected to a questionnaire survey and physical examination. Fasting blood samples were collected to test serum TSH, plasma glucose and lipids. Fatty liver was diagnosed by type B ultrasonography. The relationship between serum TSH level and body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat and NAFLD was analyzed. The results showed that serum TSH level was significantly higher in females than in males at the same group, and it was significantly higher in overweight group than in control group. Levels of body weight, BMI, waist circumference and percentage of body fat were increased in TSH >2.5 group compared to TSH ≤2.5 group in women. However, plasma lipids showed no significant differences. In males all the parameters showed no significant differences between two groups. Serum TSH was significantly correlated with body weight, BMI, waist circumference and percentage of body fat after adjustment for age in females. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that percentage of body fat and BMI contributed significantly to the variance of TSH. Serum TSH level was significantly higher in nonalcoholic fatty liver group than in normal group in females. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that TSH level was not the independent risk factor of NAFLD. Taken together the data suggest that serum TSH in normal range is significantly correlated with BMI and percentage of body fat in females. And the change of TSH level would not influence the prevalence of NAFLD.