A Correlation Study of Anthropometric Measurements and Body Compositions with Thyroid Hormones in Hypothyroidism Patients

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Hypothyroidism is often associated with weight gain. In this study, we assessed the correlation of anthropometric measurements and body compositions such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total fat, visceral fat, and triceps fold with different components of the thyroid profile. Methods: All the cases of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism were evaluated. The anthropometric measurements were taken using skin calipers and the body composition was assessed using a Dexa scan. The blood samples were collected for the estimation of thyroid hormone levels. A statistical correlation was drawn between the various anthropometric measures and body composition with different components of thyroid profile. Results: The gender-wise comparison study revealed that BMI, total fat %, and visceral fat % were significantly higher in the female gender. Total fat and visceral fat have a direct significant association with BMI (P > 0.005). An increase in age is associated with a rise in the values of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) (P > 0.05). A positive correlation between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and BMI (r = 0.294), total fat % (0.026), visceral fat % (r = 0.216), and triceps fold measurement (0.004). Conversely, a negative correlation was observed between TSH levels and WC (r = −0.178). There was a negative correlation observed between T4 levels and BMI (r = −0.327), visceral fat percentage (r = −0.152), and triceps fold measurements (r = −0.076). However, a positive correlation was found between T4 levels and WC (r = 0.174) and total fat percentage (r = 0.090). A negative correlation was observed between T3 levels and BMI (r = −0.108), while a positive correlation was observed between T3 levels and all other variables. Conclusion: Age and BMI, but not gender, were found to be significantly associated with thyroid profile. Among anthropometric measurements, the total fat percentage demonstrated a positive correlation with all thyroid hormones, suggesting that the total fat percentage may be a more accurate predictor of thyroid hormone levels than other anthropometric variables alone.