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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Thyroid Endocrinology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1378757

Thyroid dysfunction and sarcopenia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Provisionally accepted
Jiaxin Wei Jiaxin Wei 1Shuanglong Hou Shuanglong Hou 1Peng Hei Peng Hei 1Gang Wang Gang Wang 2*
  • 1 Graduate School of Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi'an, China
  • 2 School of Sports and Health Science, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi'an, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective Observational studies have shown positive associations between thyroid dysfunction and risk of sarcopenia. However, the causality of this association remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the potential causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sarcopenia using Mendelian randomization (MR).This study collected pooled data from genome-wide association studies focusing on thyroid dysfunction and three sarcopenia-related features: low hand grip strength, appendicular lean mass (ALM), and walking pace, all in individuals of European ancestry. The primary analytical method used was inverse-variance weighted, with weighted median and MR-Egger serving as complementary methods to assess causal effects. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy tests were also performed, and the stability of the results was evaluated using the Leave-one-out.The MR analysis indicated that hyperthyroidism could lead to a significant decrease in ALM in the extremities (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.05; P < 0.001). The analysis also found that hypothyroidism could cause a notable reduction in grip strength (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.37 to 3.01; P < 0.001) and walking pace (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.77 to 0.90; P < 0.001). There was a significant association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and a reduced walking pace (OR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.00; P = 0.041).This study provides evidence that hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism can all increase the risk of sarcopenia.

    Keywords: Mendelian randomization, Sarcopenia, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, low hand grip strength, Appendicular lean mass, Walking pace

    Received: 30 Jan 2024; Accepted: 20 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wei, Hou, Hei and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Gang Wang, School of Sports and Health Science, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi'an, China

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