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Associations Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Thyroid Function Parameters in Previously Healthy Children
Yong Guo1, Chun-Yan Wu1, Yu-Hong Deng1
1Department of Children's Health Care, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Vitamin D deficiency in young children is slightly linked to hypothyroidism. However, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed no significant association with thyroid function in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency is a growing concern with potential links to various health conditions, including overt thyroid diseases.
- Limited data exists on the specific impact of vitamin D status on thyroid function during early childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and thyroid function parameters in children aged 6-24 months.
- To determine if vitamin D status influences thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2869 children aged 6-24 months undergoing routine health check-ups.
- Serum 25(OH)D, TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
- Statistical analysis explored correlations between vitamin D levels and thyroid function parameters.
Main Results:
- The study found a prevalence of 12.5% vitamin D deficiency and 36.0% insufficiency among the participants.
- Serum 25(OH)D levels did not show a significant correlation with TSH, FT3, or FT4 levels.
- Vitamin D deficiency was associated with hypothyroidism (aOR=2.16) but not with subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency shows a slight association with hypothyroidism in previously healthy children aged 6-24 months.
- No significant associations were observed between serum 25(OH)D levels and other thyroid function measures (TSH, FT3, FT4) in this cohort.
Purpose:
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to overt thyroid diseases. Data on the effects of vitamin D status on thyroid function in children are less examined. The goal of the present study was to explore the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and thyroid function parameters in early childhood.
Patients And Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study involving record-linkage of children's data of routine health check-ups for promoting early childhood development at Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital; 2869 children aged 6-24 months were included from January 2015 to May 2017. Serum 25(OH)D, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
Results:
The study population had a mean serum 25(OH)D level of 79.7 ± 28.1 nmol/L and 12.5% vitamin D deficiency and 36.0% insufficiency rates. The rates of thyroid dysfunctions detected were 2.9% hypothyroidism, 4.2% subclinical hypothyroidism, 0.9% hyperthyroidism, and 1.7% subclinical hyperthyroidism among the previously healthy children aged 6 to 24 months. Serum 25(OH)D levels had no significant correlation with TSH (r = 0.022, P = 0.236), FT3 (r = 0.014, P = 0.440) and FT4 (r = -0.059, P = 0.056) levels. No significant difference in the levels of thyroid hormones was found between the different quartiles of 25(OH)D level. Vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L] was associated with hypothyroidism (adjusted odds ratio = 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-3.94) but not with subclinical hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Conclusion:
Vitamin D deficiency is slightly associated with hypothyroidism. No associations were found between serum 25(OH)D levels and thyroid-related measures (TSH, FT3, and FT4) in previously healthy children aged 6-24 months.
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