Subclinical hypothyroidism and height loss according to free thyroxine levels: a prospective study.

Yuji SHIMIZU; Nagisa SASAKI; Yuko NOGUCHI; Mutsumi MATSUU-MATSUYAMA; Shin-Ya KAWASHIRI; Hirotomo YAMANASHI; Kazuhiko ARIMA; Seiko NAKAMICHI; Yasuhiro NAGATA; Takahiro MAEDA; Naomi HAYASHIDA

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Subclinical hypothyroidism and height loss according to free thyroxine levels: a prospective study.

Author: Yuji SHIMIZU ¹ ; Nagisa SASAKI ² ; Yuko NOGUCHI ³ ; Mutsumi MATSUU-MATSUYAMA ⁴ ; Shin-Ya KAWASHIRI ³ ; Hirotomo YAMANASHI ¹ ; Kazuhiko ARIMA ⁵ ; Seiko NAKAMICHI ¹ ; Yasuhiro NAGATA ³ ; Takahiro MAEDA ¹ ; Naomi HAYASHIDA ⁴
Author Information

1. Department of General Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
2. Epidemiology Section, Division of Public Health, Osaka Institute of Public Health.
3. Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
4. Division of Strategic Collaborative Research, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University.
5. Leading Medical Research Core Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Free thyroxine; Height loss; Subclinical hypothyroidism; Thyroid hormone
MeSH: Humans; Hypothyroidism/epidemiology*; Thyroxine/blood*; Male; Female; Prospective Studies; Middle Aged; Body Height; Adult; Aged; Risk Factors
From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():100-100
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been reported to be associated with lower endothelial progenitor (CD34-positive) cell count, whereas an inverse association between circulating CD34-positive cell count and height loss is documented. Reports indicate height loss to be associated with all-cause mortality, and a higher CD34-positive cell count has been shown to predict longer life. Therefore, evaluating the association between SCH and height loss provides mechanistic insights underlying the association between height loss and mortality risk.
METHODS:A prospective study involving 1,599 participants with normal free triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (T4) levels was conducted to determine the association between SCH and height loss.Since the free T4 level influences the supply of active thyroid hormone (free T3), the analysis was stratified by the median free T4 level. Height loss was defined as the highest quintile of annual height decrease.
RESULTS:SCH was positively associated with height loss in participants with low-normal free T4 levels (below the median), but not in those with high-normal free T4 levels (at or above the median). After adjusting for sex, age, free T3 level, atherosclerosis, and known cardiovascular risk factors, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for height loss were 1.88 (1.02, 3.47) and 1.92 (1.02, 3.62) in the low-normal free T4 group. The corresponding values in the high-normal free T4 group were 0.37 (0.08, 1.69) and 0.43 (0.09, 1.97).
CONCLUSION:SCH could influence height loss, and free T4 might influence the association between SCH and height loss in euthyroid individuals. These results clarify the mechanisms underlying the association between height loss and mortality risk.