Visfatin plasma concentrations in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism before and after control of thyroid function

Abstract

Alterations in thyroid function are associated with changes in body weight, metabolism, and low-grade inflammation. In several studies, plasma levels of visfatin were found to be associated with body mass index, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. In our study we aimed to evaluate visfatin levels according to thyroid dysfunction. The study cohort comprised 56 Hashimoto thyroiditis patients with hypothyroidism (43.94+/-14.27 yr), 56 Graves patients with hyperthyroidism (45.87+/-13.28 yr), and 56 euthyroid healthy subjects (45.23+/-7.11 yr) as a control group. In addition, we evaluated the effect of therapy on plasma visfatin levels in 16 hypothyroid and in 25 hyperthyroid patients. Markedly low visfatin levels were found in hyperthyroid patients [9.44 (8.07- 10.8) ng/ml] compared with the hypothyroid [49.93 (40.72- 59.1) ng/ml] and control groups [38.6 (30.6-46.6) ng/ml] (p<0.001, p<0.001). Plasma visfatin levels in patients with hypothyroidism decreased significantly following treatment [58.58 (10.21-190.7) ng/ml vs 40.00 (10.01-102.6) ng/ml; p=0.001]. Plasma visfatin levels increased significantly after antithyroid therapy in patients with hyperthyroidism [7.86 (1.02-19.23) ng/ml vs 12.63 (3.48-110.9) ng/ml; p<0.001]. There were negative correlations between visfatin levels with free T3 (r=-0.719, p<0.001), and free T4 (r=-0.716, p<0.001) levels. There was a positive correlation between visfatin and TSH levels (r=0.701, p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between delta visfatin levels with delta free T3, delta free T4 (r=-0.686, p<0.001; r=-0.624, p<0.001). Visfatin thus seems to be regulated by thyroid hormones. While the influence of thyroid dysfunction on adipocytokine production and release is still poorly understood, the results of our study suggest that the effects of hyper- and hypothyroidism on various metabolic parameters may be partly mediated by visfatin.

The relationship between serum adipocytokines and Graves&rsquo; ophthalmopathy: A hospital-based study

“…Our results are consistent with those of Corbetta et al [18]. Ozkaya et al [11] reported a negative correlation between serum visfatin level and free T3 and T4 levels, and that the effects of hyper and hypothyroidism on various metabolic parameters may be partly mediated by visfatin. However, our results show no association between serum adipocytokine levels and T3 or TSH.…”

“…Several studies have shown that serum adipocytokine levels are associated with thyroid hormones [11,12]. Iglesias et al [12] reported that low serum leptin levels are present in both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients, and that serum resistin might be implicated in the insulin resistant state that accompanies thyrotoxicosis.…”

Visfatin Levels in Subclinical Hypothyroidism

“…(Caixàs et al 2009) Ozkaya M et al has established that serum visfatin levels in the basal state increase in hypothyroid patients and become normalized following substitution with thyroid hormone. (Ozkaya et al 2009) On the other hand, Guzel S et al found increased levels of visfatin in overt and subclinic hypothyroid patients, but they didn't look for the changes of visfatin levels after normalization of thyroid function in both patients groups (Guzel et al 2013). Reciprocal association between circulating levels of visfatin and thyroid hormones may constitute either a direct effect of thyroid hormones on visfatin secretion from visceral fat tissue or immune cells, or clearance of visfatin.…”

“…They indicated that thyroid hormones decrease visfatin levels independent from age, body composition or glucose levels. They thought that visfatin levels were affected by thyroid dysfunction but were not affected by differences in body composition (Ozkaya et al 2009). In our study body weight before and after treatment were similar.…”

“…Visfatin was reported to be increased in hypothyroid patients and improved after normalization of thyroid dysfunction (Ozkaya et al 2009;Caixàs et al 2009;Guzel et al 2013). There is also one study showing that visfatin levels are affected also in subclinical hypothyroidism.…”