Association between calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters and thyroid status in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men with euthyroidism: a population-based cross-sectional study

Although it is generally accepted that thyroid hormones affect bone metabolism, there is little data on the association of thyroid antibodies with bone status. We aimed to investigate the association between thyroid hormones or antibodies and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters. This was a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in Nanjing, China. A total of 1,001 Chinese men over 40 years were enrolled. We measured free triiodothyronine, free thyroxin (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and QUS parameters. After adjusting for potential confounders, QUS values decreased from the lowest to highest tertiles of fT4 in euthyroid men [quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) p = 0.002, broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) p = 0.000, speed of sound (SOS) p = 0.009, respectively]. Men with high anti-TPO levels (>= 200 IU/ml) were found to have lower QUI (p = 0.030), BUA (p = 0.034), and SOS (p = 0.041) values than controls (<200 IU/ml). The prevalence of vitaminD deficiency was significantly higher in individuals with high anti-TPO than those in lower levels (87.5 vs. 59.5 %, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that high fT4 or anti-TPO values are associated with lower QUS parameters. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the precise relationship between thyroid status and osteoporosis.