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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Cardiovascular Endocrinology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1467254
This article is part of the Research Topic Screening Remnant Lipid Markers in Cardiometabolic Diseases View all 5 articles

Association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and serum thyroid function measures: Recent Findings from NHANES 2007-2012 and Mendelian randomization

Provisionally accepted
Moyao Tan Moyao Tan 1Ping Zhang Ping Zhang 1*Shan Wu Shan Wu 2*Si-Xuan Zhu Si-Xuan Zhu 2*Ming Gao Ming Gao 1*
  • 1 Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medical Hospital, Chengdu, China
  • 2 Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

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

    Objective: There is limited epidemiological data regarding the association of blood lipids with thyroid hormones. Thus, the present article aims to explore whether there is an association between non-high-density to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and thyroid hormones.We analyzed samples from 3,881 adults aged 20 years and above who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2007 to 2012. The study tested for thyroid hormones, including total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Survey-weighted linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to investigate the relationship between NHHR and thyroid hormones. Subsequently, subgroup analyses were conducted. In Mendelian randomization (MR), the inverse variance weighting method (IVW) is used as the primary analytical approach.Results: This study finally comprised 3,881 adults aged 20 years and older. After extensive adjustments for covariables, the regression analysis revealed significant negative associations between NHHR and FT4 (β: -0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]:-0.18, -0.04), FT4/FT3 (β: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.08, -0.04), and TT4/TT3 (β: -0.001, 95% CI: -0.001, 0.000). Both observational and Mendelian randomization studies suggest that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol may not significantly influence the risk of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.3 Conclusions: The study indicates negative associations between NHHR and FT4, as well as the ratios of FT4/FT3 and TT4/TT3. This suggests that NHHR may reflect changes in thyroid function, highlighting its potential clinical significance in assessing thyroid function and metabolic health.

    Keywords: NHHR, serum thyroid function, NHANES, Mendelian randomization, clinical practice

    Received: 19 Jul 2024; Accepted: 03 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Tan, Zhang, Wu, Zhu and Gao. 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:
    Ping Zhang, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medical Hospital, Chengdu, China
    Shan Wu, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan Province, China
    Si-Xuan Zhu, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan Province, China
    Ming Gao, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medical Hospital, Chengdu, China

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