| Objective To investigate the effect of normal range of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on bone metabolism in women. Methods A total of 896 women with normal thyroid function were selected for the study. The groups were defined according to three quantile methods of TSH levels. The groups in the premenopausal women was defined as T1 (0.27-2.00 mIU/L), T2 (2.01-2.80 mIU/L), and T3 (2.81-4.20 mIU/L). The groups in the postmenopausal women was defined as T1 (0.27-2.01 mIU/L), T2 (2.02-3.23 mIU/L), and T3 (3.24-4.20 mIU/L). The differences of the blood calcium, blood phosphorus, 25(OH) vitD, waist circumference, BMI, and BMD among the three groups were compared. BMD was considered as the dependent variable. The effect of different TSH levels on osteoporosis was analyzed using binary logistic analysis. Results (1) In menopausal women, the left forearm BMD in group T1 and group T2 was significantly lower than that in group T3 (P<0.05). BMD in the right and calcaneus in T1 and T2 group was significantly lower than that in T3 group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between 3 groups of premenopausal women. (2) In postmenopausal women, the stratified TSH levels were negatively correlated with the bone mass levels of the right calcaneus and left forearm (r=-0.228, P<0.05; r=-0.145, P<0.05), and no correlation was shown between the stratified TSH levels and the bone mass levels of the right calcaneus or left forearm in premenopausal women. (3) Binary logistic analysis showed that the risk of osteoporosis increased in postmenopausal women T1 group, after adjusting gender, age, BMI, waist circumference, blood calcium, blood phosphorus, 25(OH)D levels, and BMD considered as dependent variable (OR=2.278, 95%CI 1.011-5.132, P<0.05). Conclusion The lower levels in the normal range of TSH has a lower BMD and increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. |