You-Lee Kim, A-Lum Han, Sae-Ron Shin

Department of Family Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea


Background: Many studies have established the association between overt hypothyroidism and metabolic syn- drome (MS). However, the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and MS varies from study to study. This study aimed to investigate associations between SCH and components of MS and vitamin D status in Korean adults.
Methods: Using data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015), chi-squared tests and t-tests were used to explore relationships between thyroid hormones and components of MS and vitamin D status. Multiple regression analysis was undertaken to assess relationships between SCH and components of MS and vitamin D.
Results: Systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose were significantly higher in the euthyroid (EUT) group than in the SCH group, and vitamin D status was significantly lower in the SCH group than EUT. However, in multiple regression analysis, SCH presented no significant association with components of MS or vitamin D status even after adjusting for age, sex, drinking, and smoking.
Conclusions: In Korean adults, there is no significant association between SCH and MS or vitamin D.
Korean J Health Promot 2020;20(1):10-15