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The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
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The relationship between vitamin D level and thyroid antibodies in primary hypothyroidism

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 31, pages 164–170 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem. Its deficiency has been reported to be associated with different autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D level and thyroid antibodies in primary hypothyroidism.

Patients and methods

A total number of 90 individuals were enrolled in this study. They were divided into the following groups: group I included 60 naïve patients with hypothyroidism representing the case group, and this group was further subdivided into 30 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and 30 patients without autoimmune thyroid disease. Group ІІ included 30 apparently healthy participants matched for age and sex representing a control group. All participants underwent a detailed clinical examination and laboratory tests including, 25 (OH) vitamin D, thyroid function tests (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine), and thyroid autoantibodies assessment, including anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.

Results

Serum levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D recorded a highly significant difference between the studied groups (13.08±3.58 ng/ml in group I vs. 20.67±13.33 ng/ml in group II; P<0.01). Moreover, there was a highly significant difference between patients with AITD and patients without AITD (12.6±5.5 ng/ml vs. 14.5±7.3 ng/ml, respectively; P<0.01), and vitamin D deficiency was more frequent in patients with AITD (43.3%), rather than 23.3% in patients without AITD. There was a significant negative correlation between serum 25 (OH) vitamin D and thyroid-stimulating hormone, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, and anti-thyroglobulin (r= –0.459, –0.582, and –0.324, respectively; P<0.05), whereas a significant positive correlation between serum 25 (OH) vitamin D and both of free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine (r=0.368 and 0.598, respectively; P<0.05).

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with AITD, and further studies are needed to determine its role in management of primary hypothyroidism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Ramsis St., Abbasia Square, Cairo, Egypt

    Salwa S. Hosny, Maram M. M. Aboromia & Nesma A. Ibrahim MD

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, El Matareya Educational Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

    Doaa K. Abd El Halim

Authors
  1. Salwa S. Hosny
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  2. Maram M. M. Aboromia
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  3. Nesma A. Ibrahim MD
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  4. Doaa K. Abd El Halim
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Correspondence to Nesma A. Ibrahim MD.

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Hosny, S.S., Aboromia, M.M.M., Ibrahim, N.A. et al. The relationship between vitamin D level and thyroid antibodies in primary hypothyroidism. Egypt J Intern Med 31, 164–170 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_104_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_104_18

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