Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on calcified tissues
Bone Abstracts (2013) 1 PP112 | DOI: 10.1530/boneabs.1.PP112

ECTS2013 Poster Presentations Calciotropic and phosphotropic hormones and mineral metabolism (33 abstracts)

Plasma triiodothyronine levels are positively associated with BMD and bone strength: a cross-sectional study

Emil Moser , Tanja Sikjaer , Leif Mosekilde & Lars Rejnmark


Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.


In previous studies, discrepant effects of TSH and thyroid hormones on bone have been reported. While low TSH and high thyroxine (T4) levels increase bone turnover, a recent study suggested a positive association between triiodothyronine (T3) levels and mineral deposition in bone. No data are available on bone architecture and strength in relation to thyroid status.

Aim: Using a cross-sectional design, we determined whether bone density, structure, and strength are affected in patients with post-surgical hypothyroidism on T4 substitution therapy.

Patients and methods: We compared 45 patients with well-substituted hypothyroidism with 45 age- and sex-matched controls. Areal BMD was assessed by DXA. Volumetric BMD and bone geometry was measured by HR-pQCT scans (distal radius and tibia). Bone strength was estimated by finite element analysis.

Results: Mean age was 55 years. 80% were women. Patients had been on treatment with T4 for 11.5 (range 3–41) years. Patients and controls had similar levels of TSH. Patients had significant higher T4- but lower T3-levels. Areal BMD did not differ between groups at the lumbar spine, hip, forearm or the whole body. Neither did cortical or trabecular volumetric BMD or indices of bone geometry differ between groups. Finite element analysis showed no significant difference in failure loads. For the entire population, there was no significant correlation between BMD and TSH or T4, but T3 was significant positively correlated to BMD at the hip (P=0.324, P<0.01), spine (P=0.225, P<0.05), and the distal forearm (P=0.278, P<0.05). Furthermore, T3 correlate positively to failure load at radius (P=0.386, P<0.01) and tibia (P=0.302, P<0.01).

Conclusion: If patients with hypothyroidism are well-substituted with T4, the disease does not affect bone to any major degree. Our findings of an increased BMD and improved bone strength with increased T3 levels call for further studies on potential beneficial effects of T3 on bone metabolism.

Volume 1

European Calcified Tissue Society Congress 2013

Lisbon, Portugal
18 May 2013 - 22 May 2013

European Calcified Tissue Society 

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