Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with subclinical hypothyroidism

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in various diseases including cancer and auto immune diseases. The present study attempts to establish a relation between vitamin D deficiency, thyroid hormones and TSH in subclinical hypothyroidism.100 newly diagnosed patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were divided into three groups according to vitamin D levels. Mean plasma TSH and T₃ values decreased with increasing vitamin D values and T₄ increased with increasing vitamin D tertiles. However, intergroup comparison showed no statistically significant changes. In females, negative correlation between vitamin D and TSH was statistically significant (p=0.014).The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency in 100 patients was found to be 38%, 38% and 24%. The study indicates the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in subclinical hypothyroidism, but further studies are needed to determine whether it is a causative factor in the pathogenesis of the disease or a consequence.