Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 66, 588-592, Copyright © 1988 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Hereditary and environmental influences on the variation of thyroid hormones in normal male twins

AW Meikle, JD Stringham, MG Woodward and JC Nelson
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.

Heritability of the variation of the plasma total and unbound T4 (free T4), T3, T4-binding globulin (TBG), and TSH concentrations was investigated in 15 monozygotic and 15 dizygotic male twin pairs. The variability in plasma of total (58%) and free T4 (72%) concentrations was significantly less (P less than 0.01) in the twin pairs than in unrelated men. Half of the variability of T3 (P less than 0.05), TBG (P less than 0.05), and TSH (P less than 0.05) was affected by influences shared by the twin pairs in both monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs. The heritability index for variability of the plasma total T4 and free T4 was greater than 28% (P less than 0.05), and it was 25% or less for T3 and TBG. Variation in TBG accounted for less than 20% (P less than 0.001) of the variation in thyroid hormone concentrations. The results indicate that familial factors, which are affected by genetic and/or environmental factors, influence the variation of plasma TBG, TSH, T4, free T4, and T3 concentrations among normal men. Genetic factors influenced the variation in plasma T4 and free T4 levels.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Biondi and D. S. Cooper The Clinical Significance of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2008; 29(1): 76 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. C. Moeller, M. Alonso, X. Liao, V. Broach, A. Dumitrescu, J. Van Sande, L. Montanelli, S. Skjei, C. Goodwin, H. Grasberger, et al. Pituitary-Thyroid Setpoint and Thyrotropin Receptor Expression in Consomic Rats Endocrinology, October 1, 2007; 148(10): 4727 - 4733. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Hansen, T. H. Brix, I. Iachine, T. I. A. Sorensen, K. O. Kyvik, and L. Hegedus Genetic and environmental interrelations between measurements of thyroid function in a healthy Danish twin population Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2007; 292(3): E765 - E770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-M. Fernandez-Real, A. Lopez-Bermejo, A. Castro, R. Casamitjana, and W. Ricart Thyroid Function Is Intrinsically Linked to Insulin Sensitivity and Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Healthy Euthyroid Subjects J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3337 - 3343. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Wartofsky and R. A Dickey The Evidence for a Narrower Thyrotropin Reference Range Is Compelling J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2005; 90(9): 5483 - 5488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. B. Samollow, G. Perez, C. M. Kammerer, D. Finegold, P. W. Zwartjes, L. M. Havill, A. G. Comuzzie, M. C. Mahaney, H. H. Goring, J. Blangero, et al. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Thyroid Hormone Variation in Mexican Americans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2004; 89(7): 3276 - 3284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Hansen, T. H. Brix, T. I. A. Sorensen, K. O. Kyvik, and L. Hegedus Major Genetic Influence on the Regulation of the Pituitary-Thyroid Axis: A Study of Healthy Danish Twins J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2004; 89(3): 1181 - 1187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Blangero, S. Williams-Blangero, M. C. Mahaney, A. G. Comuzzie, J. E. Hixson, P. B. Samollow, R. M. Sharp, M. P. Stern, and J. W. MacCluer Effects of a Major Gene for Apolipoprotein A-I Concentration Are Thyroid Hormone Dependent in Mexican Americans Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., September 1, 1996; 16(9): 1177 - 1183. [Abstract] [Full Text]