Cited by 128Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyThyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Heritability of serum TSH, free T4 and free T3 concentrations: a study of a large UK twin cohort

Panicker, V., Wilson, S. G., Spector, T. D., Brown, S. J., Falchi, M., Richards, J. B., Surdulescu, G. L., Lim, E. M. +2 more·2008·Clinical Endocrinology

Abstract

Summary: Objective Thyroid hormone action influences many metabolic and synthetic processes, but the degree of regulation attributed to genes and environmental factors affecting normal variation remains controversial. Design We investigated the magnitude of the genetic and environmental determination of serum concentrations of free (f) T3, fT4, TSH and the fT4 × TSH product and their variation, in a large cohort of twin pairs. Female dizygous and monozygous twins (849 and 213 pairs, respectively) from the TwinsUK registry (mean age 45·5, range 18–80 years) were studied. Results Comparison of thyroid parameters within various groups showed no differences between smoking categories, and higher serum TSH and lower fT3 in subjects with positive thyroid antibodies. Using structural equation modelling, we estimated the heritable contribution to serum thyroid parameters (with 95% confidence intervals) to be 65% (58%–71%) for TSH, 65% (58%–71%) for the fT4 × TSH product, 39% (20%–55%) for fT4 and 23% (3%–41%) for fT3. Conclusions We conclude that genetic regulation is a particularly important determinant of TSH and the fT4 × TSH product, and is a less important determinant of fT4 and fT3 concentrations in Caucasian women. These data from a large well‐characterized cohort suggest that while there is a strong heritable contribution to serum TSH, variation in fT4 and fT3 concentrations may be less explained by genetic factors and more driven by environmental effects than previously thought.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03079.x

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Authors
Panicker, V., Wilson, S. G., Spector, T. D., Brown, S. J., Falchi, M., Richards, J. B., Surdulescu, G. L., Lim, E. M., Fletcher, S. J., & Walsh, J. P.
Affiliations
  • Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (AU)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Pathwest Laboratory Medicine (AU)
Corresponding author
Walsh, J. P.
Venue
Clinical Endocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-09-19
Volume
68
Issue
4
Pages
652-659
ISSN
  • 0300-0664 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2265
OpenAlex
W1995092017
Cited by
128
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Clinical Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Abbott Diagnostics
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Keywords
heritability, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, thyroid hormones, genetic versus environmental effects, dizygotic twins, monozygotic twins, thyroid autoantibodies, smoking, thyroid function
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid Gland, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic

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