Horm Metab Res 1995; 27(11): 503-507
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-980012
Originals Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Slightly Suppressive Dose of L-Thyroxine Does Not Affect Bone Turnover and Bone Mineral Density in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women With Nontoxic Goitre

Giovina De Rosa1 , A. Testa1 , Maria Lodovica Maussier2 , Cinzia Callà3 , P. Astazi4 , Carlina Albanese4
  • 1Institutes of Endocrinology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
  • 2Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
  • 3Chemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
  • 4Internal Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
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Publikationsverlauf

1994

1995

Publikationsdatum:
23. April 2007 (online)

Abstract

There are controversial reports on the potential role of Lthyroxine administration as a risk factor for osteoporosis. We studied bone mass and metabolism in a homogeneous series of 50 Caucasian women, 25 premenopausal and 25 postmenopausal, having nontoxic goitre treated with slightly suppressive L-thyroxine doses (50 - 200 µg/day) with subnormal serum TSH and normal thyroid hormone levels. These patients were matched with 50 controls for age, sex, body mass index, menopausal and thyroid disease. Patients and controls were also investigated for minor determinants of bone loss, such as hereditary and life-style factors. Patients and controls filled in a questionnare and underwent physical examination, routine laboratory tests and calciotropic and thyroid hormone assay. Bone mineral turnover was evaluated by determining serum osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcium, phosphate, urine hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/creatinine ratio. Bone mineral density was measured by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle. No difference in bone mineral density or biochemical markers was found between patients and controls; bone density and turnover were significantly affected by menopausal status. No relationship between bone density or turnover values and L-thyroxine administration was found. A significant positive correlation was found between osteocalcin and the hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio in premenopausal and post-menopausal patients, but not in controls. Our study suggests that slightly suppressive L-thyroxine administration in nontoxic goitre can activate bone turnover but constitutes neither an actual risk factor for bone loss nor, consequently, for osteoporotic fractures.