Association between vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sandeep Appunni, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala India; Muni Rubens, Miami Cancer Institute; Venkataraghavan Ramamoorthy, Baptist Health South Florida; Anshul Saxena, Baptist Health South Florida; Raees Tonse, Miami Cancer Institute; Emir Veledar, Emory University; Peter McGranaghan, Miami Cancer Institute
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-11-12
• Publisher: BMC
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12902-021-00897-1
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC ENDOCRINE DISORDERS
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 224
• End Page: 224
• Grant/Funding Information: Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.; This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
• Keywords: Thyroid peroxidase; DISEASE; RISK; Autoimmune; TSH; RACE; Thyroglobulin; Hypothyroidism; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; HASHIMOTOS-THYROIDITIS; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Low vitamin D
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Chemistry, Biochemistry; Biology, Biostatistics

Abstract

Purpose: Many smaller studies have previously shown a significant association between thyroid autoantibody induced hypothyroidism and lower serum vitamin D levels. However, these finding have not been confirmed by large-scale studies. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between hypothyroidism and vitamin D levels using a large population-based data. Methods: For this study, we used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the years 2007–2012. We categorized participants into three clinically relevant categories based on vitamin D levels: optimal, intermediate and deficient. Participants were also split into hypothyroid and hyperthyroid. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds of being hypothyroid based on vitamin D status. Results: A total of 7943 participants were included in this study, of which 614 (7.7%) were having hypothyroidism. Nearly 25.6% of hypothyroid patients had vitamin D deficiency, compared to 20.6% among normal controls. Adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that the odds of developing hypothyroidism were significantly higher among patients with intermediate (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.7, 95% CI: 1.5–1.8) and deficient levels of vitamin D (aOR, 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4–1.9). Conclusion: Low vitamin D levels are associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism. Healthcare initiatives such as mass vitamin D deficiency screening among at-risk population could significantly decrease the risk for hypothyroidism in the long-term.