Nutrition & Metabolism

official impact factor 2.35
Search for
Advanced search
Nutrition & Metabolism
Tools
Open Access Research

Thyroid status influence on adiponectin, acylation stimulating protein (ASP) and complement C3 in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid subjects

Haiying Yu1, Yan Yang1, Muxun Zhang1, Huiling Lu2, Jianhua Zhang1, Hongwei Wang2 and Katherine Cianflone3*

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China

2 Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China

3 Centre de Recherche Hôpital Laval, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

For all author emails, please log on.

Nutrition & Metabolism 2006, 3:13 doi:10.1186/1743-7075-3-13

Published: 10 February 2006

Abstract

Background

Thyroid abnormalities (hyperthyroid and hypothyroid) are accompanied by changes in intermediary metabolism including alterations in body weight, insulin resistance and lipid profile. The aims of this study were to examine plasma ASP, its precursor C3 and adiponectin in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid subjects as compared to controls.

Methods

A total of 99 subjects were recruited from endocrinology/out-patient clinics: 46 hyperthyroid subjects, 23 hypothyroid subjects and 30 control subjects. Subjects were evaluated for FT4, FT3, TSH, glucose, insulin, complete lipid profile and the adipokines: adiponectin, acylation stimulating protein (ASP) and complement C3.

Results

Hyperthyroidism was associated with a 95% increase in adiponectin (p = 0.0002), a 47% decrease in C3 (p < 0.0001), no change in ASP and increased ASP/C3 ratio (p = 0.0012). Hypothyroidism was associated with a 31% increase in ASP (p = 0.008). Adiponectin and C3 correlated with FT3 (r = 0.383, p = 0.004 and r = -0.277, p = 0.007, respectively) and FT4 (r = 0.464, p = 0.003 and r = -0.225, p = 0.03, respectively). ASP correlated with TSH (r = 0.202, p = 0.04). Adiponectin did not correlate with either ASP or C3, only ASP and C3 correlated (r = -0.197, p = 0.05). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with BMI, total cholesterol and plasma triglyceride, while C3 was positively correlated with BMI and total cholesterol. Surprisingly, adiponectin was positively correlated with insulin (r = 0.293, p = 0.02) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.373, p = 0.003) while C3 was negatively correlated with glucose (r = -0.242, p = 0.022, insulin (r = -0.184, p = 0.05) and HOMA-IR.

Conclusion

These changes suggest that thyroid disease may be accompanied by changes in adipokines, which may contribute to the phenotype expressed.