Is Insulin Resistance Present in Children With Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

There are limited number of studies in the literature reporting the effect of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) on insulin resistance and glucose metabolism in children. This study compared insulin, glucose and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) values in 50 patients with SH and 50 healthy subjects. However, no significant difference was found between the groups. In addition, no significant correlation was observed between the TSH and fT4 levels and blood glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR values in patients with SH. Our study showed that SH does not lead to insulin resistance. Weight gain may be higher than normal in patients with SH. More comprehensive studies are needed for the long-term metabolic and cardiovascular effects of SH.