Effect of Levothyroxine on Serum Adiponectin, Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Hypothyroidism

September 27, 2019 updated by: RITUPARNA MAITI, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
The aim of this study is to evaluate plasma adiponectin level, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk and their correlation (if any) in patients with hypothyroidism and also to investigate the effect of levothyroxine on these parameters. The study may explore the lacunae in present treatment protocol and can suggest the possibilities of add-on therapies for a better management.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Hypothyroidism is associated with premature atherosclerosis and increased prevalence of coronary artery diseases. Long-term hypothyroidism is associated with severe cardiovascular manifestations including reduced intravascular volume, increased systemic vascular resistance, and hypertension. Hypothyroidism is one of the main causes of secondary dyslipidemia. The classic manifestations of hypothyroidism are raised VLDL, LDL and apo A. The increase in cardiovascular risk is not only due to dyslipidemia, but also to hemodynamic changes, endothelial dysfunction, hormonal and metabolic changes. Insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome are important cardiovascular risk factors as insulin-resistant individuals with raised TSH have higher LDL concentrations.

Among the various markers associated with obesity and insulin resistance, of particular importance is adiponectin which is inversely related to the degree of adiposity, increases insulin sensitivity, and has antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, hence may be cardioprotective. Hypoadiponectinaemia is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and type II diabetes, as well as atherosclerosis, hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Treating hypothyroidism with levothyroxine has an antioxidant and cholesterol reducing effect, and thus already has proven beneficial impact on cardiovascular function, blood pressure and lipid profile. But the association of adiponectin and insulin resistance in hypothyroid state and future cardiovascular risk is still not clear because there are few published studies in this domain and result of some the studies are contradictory. The aim of this study is to evaluate plasma adiponectin level, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk and their correlation (if any) in patients with hypothyroidism and also to investigate the effect of levothyroxine on these parameters.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Odisha
      • Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India, 751019
        • AIIMS, Bhubaneswar

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

The study will be conducted on 50 patients of hypothyroidism attending the outpatient department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar. Another 50 euthyroid, age-, sex-matched subjects will be recruited as control.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients of either sex, aged 18 years or above suffering from hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism was defined as serum TSH level > 5μIU/ml, serum FT3 level < 1.57 pg/ml, serum FT4 level < 0.7 ng/dL. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined as an elevated TSH level and a normal serum FT3 and FT4 level) and need treatment (treatment is indicated in patients with TSH levels >10 µIU/mL or in patients with TSH levels between 5 and 10 µIU/mL in conjunction with goiter or positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (or both).
  • Patients not having hepatic/renal dysfunction, Diabetes mellitus, and chronic inflammatory diseases and not taking any medications for thyroid disease.
  • Euthyroid subjects not having any significant medical disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with other comorbidites which can interfere the outcome measures.
  • Patients who are already on levothyroxine therapy or taking other medications.
  • Patients with subacute thyroiditis were excluded from the study since acute inflammation could influence the measurements.
  • Pregnant and lactating mothers.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Euthyroid group
Fifty (50) age and sex matched euthyroid subjects will serve as the control group. Control euthyroid subjects will be evaluated once at baseline and after 12 weeks.
Hypothyroid group
Fifty (50) hypothyroid patients attending the outpatient department of General Medicine, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, will be recruited for the present study following inclusion and exclusion criteria.
At first visit, after taking detailed history including baseline symptomatology, clinical evaluation, and laboratory investigation, treatment will be started with levothyroxine (50 microgram/day). The dosage of levothyroxine (LT4) will be adjusted (at 4th and 8th week) in an attempt to keep the serum FT4 and TSH concentrations within the normal range. After 12 weeks, all the patients will be followed up, clinical and laboratory tests will be repeated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change of Serum Adiponectin from baseline
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Method: ELISA
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Change of hsCRP from baseline
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Method: ELISA
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Change in Insulin resistance from baseline by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Serum Insulin
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Method: ELISA
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Lipid profile (Total cholesterol)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Lipid profile (LDL-C)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Lipid profile (HDL-C)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Lipid profile (Triglyceride)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Long term glycemic status by Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c%)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Change in Insulin resistance from baseline by Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
Change in Cardiovascular risk assessment scoring (Framingham scoring) from baseline
Time Frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up
At baseline and after 12 weeks at follow up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Director: DEBASISH HOTA, MD, DM, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 4, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

June 10, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 27, 2019

Last Verified

September 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • T/EM-F/Pharm/14/03

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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