THYROID-FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT LIPOPROTEIN PROFILES - OBSERVATIONS IN A BIRACIAL (BLACK WHITE) POPULATION - THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY/

Abnormalities of thyroid function are associated with hyperlipidemia, a risk factor for coronary artery disease that starts in childhood. We investigated the age-, race-, and sex-related differences in thyroid function and its relation to serum lipoprotein levels in children (n = 363) aged 6 to 18 years from the biracial (black/white) community of Bogalusa, Louisiana, using an ultrasensitive thyroid-stimulating hormo ne (TSH) assay. Serum levels of lipoprotein cholesterol fractions, tri glycerides, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and the Tanner stag e of sexual development were determined. Serum T3 (P < 0.0001), T4 (P < 0.0001), and TSH (P < 0.0020) levels decreased significantly with Ta nner stage. Serum T4 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in both black and white females than their male counterparts. An unexpect ed finding was a significantly increased mean serum TSH in whites (2.0 9 + 0.91; mean + standard error of mean) when compared to blacks (1.74 + 0.10; P = 0.0185). Overall, no significant correlation was noted be tween serum lipoprotein variables and TSH. However, those with the hig hest low-density lipoprotein to very low-density lipoprotein cholester ol fractions had a higher T4 and a T4/TSH ratio than those with the lo west low-density lipoprotein to very low-density lipoprotein cholester ol fractions. In summary, it is concluded that there is no simple rela tionship between lipoproteins and TSH or thyroid hormone levels in chi ldren.