SummaryContext Thyroid status affects several aspects of cardiovascular risk profile, including lipid levels and blood pressure. Whether thyroid status affects the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality remains controversial. Design The EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study. Mean follow-up was 10AE6 years. Patients Study participants were 11 554 men and women aged 45-79 years, who were living in Norfolk, UK. Measurements Baseline cardiovascular risk factors were recorded and concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured in baseline samples. Regression analyses were performed to assess the association between thyroid hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors. A proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of CHD and all-cause mortality by baseline thyroid status. No information was available on thyroid treatment during follow-up. Results Thyroid abnormalities were common, particularly among women. Thyroid abnormalities were associated with an altered cardiovascular risk profile. Even within the normal range, thyroid hormone levels, TSH more strongly than FT4, were associated with lipid levels and blood pressure among both men and women. We did not observe a significant association between subclinical thyroid abnormalities and risk of CHD or all-cause mortality. Conclusions Despite the association between thyroid hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors, thyroid status was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of future CHD or all-cause mortality in this large cohort.

Objectives To examine the relation between self reported eating frequency and serum lipid concentrations in a free living population. Design Cross sectional population based study. Setting Norfolk, England. Participants 14 666 men and women aged 45-75 years from the Norfolk cohort of the European prospective investigation into cancer (EPIC-Norfolk). Main outcome measures Concentrations of blood lipids.Results Mean concentrations of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in a continuous relation with increasing daily frequency of eating in men and women. No consistent relation was observed for high density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, or blood pressure. Mean cholesterol concentrations differed by about 0.25 mmol/l between people eating more than six times a day and those eating once or twice daily; this difference was reduced to 0.15 mmol/l after adjustment for possible confounding variables, including age, obesity, cigarette smoking, physical activity, and intake of energy and nutrients (alcohol, fat, fatty acids, protein, and carbohydrate). Conclusions Concentrations of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol are negatively and consistently associated with frequency of eating in a general population. The effects of eating frequency on lipid concentrations induced in short term trials in animals and human volunteers under controlled laboratory conditions can be observed in a free living general population. We need to consider not just what we eat but how often we eat.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic options for diabetes treatment and their potential side effects, in addition to analyzing the risks and benefits of tight glycemic control in patients with diabetic kidney disease. For this review, a search was performed using several pre-defined keyword combinations and their equivalents: “diabetes kidney disease” and “renal failure” in combination with “diabetes treatment” and “oral antidiabetic drugs” or “oral hypoglycemic agents.” The search was performed in PubMed, Endocrine Abstracts and the Cochrane Library from January 1980 up to January 2015. Diabetes treatment in patients with diabetic kidney disease is challenging, in part because of progression of renal failure-related changes in insulin signaling, glucose transport and metabolism, favoring both hyperglycemic peaks and hypoglycemia. Additionally, the decline in renal function impairs the clearance and metabolism of antidiabetic agents and insulin, frequently requiring reassessment of prescriptions. The management of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetic kidney disease is even more difficult, requiring adjustment of antidiabetic agents and insulin doses. The health team responsible for the follow-up of these patients should be vigilant and prepared to make such changes; however, unfortunately, there are few guidelines addressing the nuances of the management of this specific population.

Our results indicate that the chronic inhibitory effect of PTH on the renal proximal tubule NHE3 is associated with changes in the expression of NHE3 mRNA levels and protein abundance.