DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i04.050

Pages: 1487-1491

Thyroid disorder, second most common endocrine disorder after diabetes mellitus results from the alteration in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-thyroid gland axis, affecting intermediary metabolism, insulin resistance and lipid profile. The present study is designed to compare the fasting plasma insulin level among patients of thyroid disorders and to study the insulin resistance index among such patients. 50 diagnosed patients with thyroid disorders were included in the present study with 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. Serum thyroid - stimulating hormones (TSH), total tri iodo thyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), fasting plasma insulin were measured by Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. The insulin resistance index was measured using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Mean fasting plasma insulin levels in hypothyroid patients were found to be 10-40 μIU/ml as compared to control (2-9 μIU/ml). It indicated the significant increase of fasting plasma insulin levels in hypothyroid as compared to control group (p <0.001). Insulin resistance index in hypothyroid patients ranged from 1.53-7.88 as compared to control group (0.43-2.08). Mean fasting plasma insulin levels in hyperthyroid patients were found to be 11-38 μIU/ml as compared to control (2-9 μIU/ml). It emphasized that the mean fasting plasma insulin levels in hyperthyroid patients were significantly increased as compared to control (p<0.001). The Insulin resistance index in hyperthyroid patients ranged from 2.11-7.50 as compared to control (0.43-2.08). It is concluded that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have increased plasma insulin due to metabolic actions of thyroid hormones on insulin sensitive organs (skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) and also liver. Both hyper- and hypothyroidism are believed to cause insulin resistant states through insulin receptor and post-receptor defects.