Thyroid Function Tests, Reverse T3 and Body Mass Index in Euthyroid Elderly.

Abstract

Background: With aging, marked changes in thyroid hormone production, metabolism, and action occur. Endocrine abnormalities are common in obesity, including altered thyroid function. Objective: To assess the relation between thyroid hormones, reverse T3 and body mass index. Patients and methods: A cross sectional study including 102 elderly patients (>60 years) was conducted in Ain-Shams University hospitals. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), thyroid hormones and reverse T3 were measured for all patients. Patients with thyroid dysfunctions were excluded from the study. Results: BMI was not significantly related to reverse T3 or any of the measured thyroid hormone. Plot curves demonstrate a positive correlation between BMI and RT3, indicating that a rise in RT3 corresponds to an increase in body weight. Additionally, they reveal that RT3 decreases with underweight and increases with overweight, but these relationships are not statistically significant. Conclusion: Thyroid function tests and body mass index are not significantly correlated.