THYROID FUNCTION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: THE ROTTERDAM STUDY

Oscar H. Roa Dueñas, Chantal Koolhaas, Oscar H. Franco, M. Arfan Ikram, Robin P. Peeters, Layal Chaker

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Thyroid hormones are important regulators of the metabolic system and impact muscle and cardiorespiratory function. Thyroid hormones may have profound effects on physical activity levels, for instance, some athletes take thyroxine hormone trying to enhance their physical capacity. However there are no studies evaluating the association between thyroid function with physical activity in the general population.

METHODS In a population-based­­ sample, we assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) with physical activity. Blood samples were taken to measure thyroid hormones, and information on physical activity was collected with a validated questionnaire (LASA questionnaire). The association of FT4, TSH and TPOAbs with physical activity was examined using linear regression models, adjusted by age, sex, smoking and alcohol consumption. Additional adjustment included prevalent cardiovascular disease, body mass index and diet quality.

RESULTS We included 2452 participants (mean age 57.31 years). Cross-sectionally, FT4 and TSH levels were not associated with physical activity (Beta [ß] -0,23 95% confidence interval [CI]; -0.54, 1.00, p value [p]; 0.55, and ß, 0.45, 95% CI; -1.87, 2.78, p 0.70, respectively). Similarly, in the longitudinal analyses with 1883 participants (mean age 56.86) we observed no association for free thyroxine (ß -0,45 95% CI; -1.26, 0.36 p 0.28) or thyroid stimulating hormone (ß -0.90, 95% CI; -1.57, 3.39 p 0.47) with physical activity. In addition in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in thyroid peroxidase antibodies were not associated with physical activity.

CONCLUSION We did not observe any cross-sectional or longitudinal association between thyroid hormones with physical activity