There is significant fall in TSH levels postprandially as compared to fasting, concludes a recent study published in Indian Journal Of Endocrinology & Metabolism. Diagnosis and management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) could be significantly hampered by alteration in TSH level, particularly in conditions likes pregnancy or sub-fertility, where even slight change in TSH is critical. A study was carried out in 57 patients to find out whether a fasting or non-fasting makes a clinically significant difference in the interpretation of thyroid function tests.
Thyroid functions test were carried out in fasting state and 2 hours postprandially. TSH values were found to be significantly lowered in all the three groups postprandially but no change in free T4 values were observed. This resulted in reclassification of 15 out of 20 (75%) subjects as subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) based on…
