This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Riis, A. L. D. Articles by Møller, N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Riis, A. L. D. Articles by Møller, N.

Elevated Regional Lipolysis in Hyperthyroidism

Medical Department M (Endocrinology and Diabetes), Aarhus University Hospital and Institute of Experimental Clinical Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Anne Lene Dalkjær Riis, Medical Department M, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. E-mail: anne.lene.riis{at}iekf.au.dk.

Abstract

Hyperthyroidism is characterized by increased levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFA) and increased lipid oxidation, but it is uncertain which regional fat depots contribute. The present study was designed to define the participation of femoral and abdominal fat stores in the overall stimulation of lipolysis in hyperthyroidism in the basal state and during insulin stimulation.

We studied nine women with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism (HT) and after (euthyroidism, ET) medical treatment with methimazol and compared with eight control subjects (CTR). All subjects were studied in the postabsorptive state and during a 3-h hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp with microdialysis catheters sc in the abdominal and femoral adipose tissue.

Before treatment, patients had elevated circulating concentrations of triiodthyronine, FFA, and glycerol. Levels of interstitial glycerol (µmol/liter) in abdominal adipose tissue [485 ± 24 (HT), 226 ± 20 (ET) (P < 0.001), 265 ± 34 (CTR) (P < 0.001)] and in femoral adipose tissue [468 ± 41(HT), 245 ± 29 (ET) (P < 0.01), 278 ± 31(CTR) (P < 0.005)] were elevated in the basal hyperthyroid state, and these differences prevailed during the glucose clamp [230 ± 23 (HT), 113 ± 13 (ET) (P < 0.01), 132 ± 22(CTR) (P < 0.01) and 303 ± 39 (HT), 122 ± 15 (ET) (P < 0.01), 166 ± 21(CTR) (P < 0.01)].

These results suggest that femoral and abdominal adipose tissue contribute equally to the excessive rate of lipolysis in hyperthyroidism and that both tissues are resistant to the actions of insulin.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. L. D. Riis, J. O. L. Jorgensen, P. Ivarsen, J. Frystyk, J. Weeke, and N. Moller Increased Protein Turnover and Proteolysis Is an Early and Primary Feature of Short-Term Experimental Hyperthyroidism in Healthy Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2008; 93(10): 3999 - 4005. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Ortega, J. Koska, N. Pannacciulli, J. C Bunt, and J. Krakoff Free triiodothyronine plasma concentrations are positively associated with insulin secretion in euthyroid individuals Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2008; 158(2): 217 - 221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Polak, C. Moro, E. Klimcakova, M. Kovacikova, M. Bajzova, M. Vitkova, Z. Kovacova, R. Sotornik, M. Berlan, N. Viguerie, et al. The atrial natriuretic peptide- and catecholamine-induced lipolysis and expression of related genes in adipose tissue in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2007; 293(1): E246 - E251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Silva Thermogenic Mechanisms and Their Hormonal Regulation Physiol Rev, April 1, 2006; 86(2): 435 - 464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Dimitriadis, P. Mitrou, V. Lambadiari, E. Boutati, E. Maratou, E. Koukkou, M. Tzanela, N. Thalassinos, and S. A. Raptis Glucose and Lipid Fluxes in the Adipose Tissue after Meal Ingestion in Hyperthyroidism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2006; 91(3): 1112 - 1118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. D. Riis, T. K. Hansen, S. Thiel, C. H. Gravholt, S. Gjedde, L. C. Gormsen, J. O. L. Jorgensen, J. Weeke, and N. Moller Thyroid hormone increases mannan-binding lectin levels Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2005; 153(5): 643 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. D. Riis, J. O. L. Jorgensen, S. Gjedde, H. Norrelund, A. G. Jurik, K. S. Nair, P. Ivarsen, J. Weeke, and N. Moller Whole body and forearm substrate metabolism in hyperthyroidism: evidence of increased basal muscle protein breakdown Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2005; 288(6): E1067 - E1073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Haluzik, J. Nedvidkova, V. Bartak, I. Dostalova, P. Vlcek, P. Racek, M. Taus, S. Svacina, S. Alesci, and K. Pacak Effects of Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism on Noradrenergic Activity and Glycerol Concentrations in Human Subcutaneous Abdominal Adipose Tissue Assessed with Microdialysis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2003; 88(12): 5605 - 5608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. D. Riis, T. K. Hansen, N. Moller, J. Weeke, and J. O. L. Jorgensen Hyperthyroidism Is Associated with Suppressed Circulating Ghrelin Levels J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2003; 88(2): 853 - 857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]