EVALUATING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SERUM VITAMIN D AND ANTI-TPO ANTIBODIES IN HYPOTHYROIDISM IN THE KASHMIR VALLEY.

Background: Hypothyroidism, frequently caused by autoimmune thyroiditis, has been linked to Vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum Vitamin D levels and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies in hypothyroid patients from the Kashmir valley. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 160 hypothyroid patients. Serum Vitamin D and anti-TPO antibody levels were measured using standardized chemiluminescent immunoassay methods. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression. Results: The majority of participants were female (78.7%), with a mean age of 41.3 ± 11.6 years. Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was prevalent in 78.8% of participants, while 68.8% showed elevated anti-TPO antibodies. A significant negative correlation was observed between serum Vitamin D and anti-TPO antibodies (r = -0.412, p < 0.001). This correlation remained significant across both subclinical (r = -0.378, p = 0.002) and overt hypothyroidism (r = -0.426, p < 0.001), especially among females (r = -0.435, p < 0.001) and the 36-50 years age group (r = -0.444, p < 0.001). Vitamin D emerged as an independent predictor of anti-TPO antibody titers (β = -0.36, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study identified a significant inverse relationship between serum Vitamin D levels and anti-TPO antibody titers among hypothyroid patients in the Kashmir valley. Given the high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune thyroiditis, routine screening and supplementation may improve patient outcomes. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are recommended on large sample size.