Age and Gender Effects on FT3, FT4 and TSH Levels Among Healthy Population in Rajshahi City

Abstract

Background: The levels of serum free T3, free T4 and TSH are remarkable different from infant to old age including both male and female. This variation of free T3, free T4 and TSH levels in different decades of life also affected by gender, nutritional status, seasons, geographical region. Due to particular family setup in Bangladesh, female are more exposed to nutritional deficiencies that causes health problems including thyroid disorder. However, with increasing age, the concentration of these hormones dropped in both sexes. The drop was more in female than males. Higher frequencies of thyroid problems in females may be attribute to stress, multiple pregnancies and lactation. Objectives: To observe the effect of age and gender on FT3, FT4 and TSH levels among normal healthy population residing in Rajshahi City. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the department of physiology, Rajshahi Medical College in collaboration with institute of Nuclear medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. A total of 120 healthy persons with the male and female ratio 1:1 i.e. 60 males and 60 females aged 8 – 65 years were selected by stratified sampling as sample in this study. Non fasting blood sample was taken to measure the level of free T3, free T4, TSH by Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) techniques. Data were analyzed by ANOVA Test and independent t test. Result: The mean FT3 and FT4 levels are non significantly higher in male than female and mean TSH levels are significantly higher in male than female. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, mean FT3 and FT4 concentration is non-signifi- cantly higher in male in comparison to female. However mean TSH concentration is significantly higher male in comparison to female.