Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Autoimmune Hypothyroidism and Their Correlation with Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the vitamin D (vit-D) and vitamin B12 (vit-B12) levels and their correlation with anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism. METHODS: A total of 130 patients diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism were included in the study retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups as those having vit-B12 levels below 200 pg/mL (n = 60) and vit-B12 levels equal to or above 200 pg/mL (n = 70). These two groups were compared in terms of age, sex, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free-T4 (FT4), vit-D, and anti-TPO. The correlation between vit-B12 and anti-TPO levels was also investigated in these groups. Patients were then divided into four groups according to their vit-D levels. Patients with normal vit-D levels (25[OH]D >30 ng/mL; n = 5), those with vit-D insufficiency (20-30 mg/mL; n = 9), those with vit-D deficiency (10-20 ng/mL; n = 43), and those with severe vit-D deficiency (<10 ng/mL; n = 73). These four groups were compared in terms of age, gender, TSH, FT4, vit-B12, and anti-TPO levels. In addition, the correlation between levels of vit-D and anti-TPO was also investigated. RESULTS: We found that vit-B12 deficiency and vit-D deficiency were associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism, and that there was a negative correlation between vit-B12 and vit-D levels and anti-TPO antibodies in these patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism, vit-D and vit-B12 deficiency should be investigated at the time of diagnosis and periodically on follow-ups.

Protective effects of resveratrol on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenolic compound having antioxidant effects. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of resveratrol against oxidative stress in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. STZ was injected intraperitonally (i.p.) to 18 Sprague-Dawley albino rats, which were divided into three groups, each having six rats. First group was non-treated diabetic group (D), second diabetic group was subjected to 30 min of hepatic ischemia followed by a 45-min reperfusion period (D + I/R), and third diabetic group was subjected to 30 min of hepatic ischemia followed by a 45-min reperfusion period and treated with 20 mg/kg/day oral RSV before 30 min I/R injury (D + I/R + RSV). At the end of the experimental period, animals were decapitated, and blood samples were collected to determine tissue tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Liver and lung tissue samples were obtained for the evaluation of biochemical parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and histopathological examinations. Compared to control, I/R injury resulted in decreases in GSH levels and increases in MDA levels. Tissue TNF-α levels were also increased in the D + I/R group compared to D group. Treatment with RSV prevented the alterations on biochemical parameters and histopathological changes induced by I/R. We demonstrate that in diabetic rats, hepatic I/R injury is associated with an augmented inflammatory response and oxidative stress, while RSV pre-treatment significantly decreased these responses. Larger clinical studies are desirable to determine the exact role(s) of RSV on hepatic I/R injury among diabetic subjects.