Investigating the connection among thyroid function, sensitivity to thyroid hormones, and metabolic syndrome in euthyroid children and adolescents affected by type 1 diabetes

Valeria Calcaterra; Chiara Mameli; Maddalena Macedoni; Annalisa De Silvestri; Laura Sgambetterra; Federico Nosenzo; Francesca Chiara Redaelli; Agnese Petitti; Alessandra Bosetti; Gianvincenzo Zuccotti

doi:10.1515/jpem-2023-0565

Article

Investigating the connection among thyroid function, sensitivity to thyroid hormones, and metabolic syndrome in euthyroid children and adolescents affected by type 1 diabetes

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Published/Copyright: March 12, 2024

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From the journal Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Volume 37 Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives

A connection between thyroid hormones (THs) and diverse metabolic pathways has been reported. We evaluated thyroid function and tissue sensitivity to THs in children and adolescents with T1D in comparison to euthyroid controls. Additionally, we investigate whether a relationship exists between sensitivity indices and metabolic parameters.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 pediatric patients diagnosed with T1D. Clinical parameters, TSH, FT3, FT4, and the presence of MS were documented. Additionally, indices of peripheral sensitivity (FT3/FT4 ratio) and central sensitivity (TSH index, TSHI; TSH T4 resistance index, TT4RI; TSH T3 resistance index, TT3RI) were assessed. Thirty healthy subjects were considered as controls.

Results

The overall prevalence of MS was 7.27 %, with MS identified in 8 out of 80 (10 %) T1D subjects; none of the controls manifested MS (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed in indexes of tissue sensitivity to THs between subjects with or without MS (all p>0.05). Correlations between THs and indexes of THs tissue sensitivity and metabolic parameters in controls and T1D patients were noted.

Conclusions

This study affirms a heightened prevalence of MS in children with T1D compared to controls and underscores the potential role of THs in maintaining metabolic equilibrium.

Keywords: thyroid function; sensitivity to thyroid hormones; metabolic syndrome children; adolescents; type 1 diabetes

Corresponding author: Valeria Calcaterra, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy, E-mail: valeria.calcaterra@unipv.it

Valeria Calcaterra and Chiara Mameli contributed equally to this work.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. N. Bladen for English revision. Valeria Calcaterra and Chiara Mameli contributed equally to this work.

Research ethics: This study was authorized by the local Review Board (Milano Area 1, Protocol number n. 2021/ST/207) and adhered to the principles of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2008.
Informed consent: All participants, or their legal guardians, provided written consent after being informed about the nature of the study.
Author contributions: VC, CM, GZ conceptualized and designed the study, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted; AD performed statistical analysis, drafted the initial manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. MM, LS, FN, FCR, AP, AB drafted the initial manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.
Competing interests: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: All data are reported in the paper.

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Received: 2023-12-23

Accepted: 2024-02-18

Published Online: 2024-03-12

Published in Print: 2024-04-25

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2023-0565

Keywords for this article

thyroid function; sensitivity to thyroid hormones; metabolic syndrome children; adolescents; type 1 diabetes