TY - JOUR
T1 - Low serum free triiodothyronine levels mark familial longevity
T2 - The leiden longevity study
AU - Rozing, Maarten P.
AU - Westendorp, Rudi G.J.
AU - De Craen, Anton J.M.
AU - Frölich, Marijke
AU - Heijmans, Bastiaan T.
AU - Beekman, Marian
AU - Wijsman, Carolien
AU - Mooijaart, Simon P.
AU - Blauw, Gerard Jan
AU - Slagboom, P. Eline
AU - Van Heemst, Diana
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Innovation Oriented research Program on Genomics (SenterNovem; IGe01014 and IGe5007), the Centre for Medical Systems Biology, the Netherlands Genomics Initiative/ Netherlands Organization for scientific research (05040202 and 050-060-810. NChA), and the european Union funded Network of excellence Lifespan (FP6 036894). R.G.J.W. is supported by an unrestricted grant from The Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NChA 050-060-810).
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Background. The hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis has been widely implicated in modulating the aging process. Life extension effects associated with low thyroid hormone levels have been reported in multiple animal models. In human populations, an association was observed between low thyroid function and longevity at old age, but the beneficial effects of low thyroid hormone metabolism at middle age remain elusive. Methods We have compared serum thyroid hormone function parameters in a group of middle-aged offspring of long-living nonagenarian siblings and a control group of their partners, all participants of the Leiden Longevity Study. Results When compared with their partners, the group of offspring of nonagenarian siblings showed a trend toward higher serum thyrotropin levels (1.65 vs157 mU/L, p =. 11) in conjunction with lower free thyroxine levels (15.0 vs 15.2 pmol/L, p =. 045) and lower free triiodothyronine levels (4.08 vs 4.14 pmol/L, p =. 024). Conclusions Compared with their partners, the group of offspring of nonagenarian siblings show a lower thyroidal sensitivity to thyrotropin. These findings suggest that the favorable role of low thyroid hormone metabolism on health and longevity in model organism is applicable to humans as well.
AB - Background. The hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis has been widely implicated in modulating the aging process. Life extension effects associated with low thyroid hormone levels have been reported in multiple animal models. In human populations, an association was observed between low thyroid function and longevity at old age, but the beneficial effects of low thyroid hormone metabolism at middle age remain elusive. Methods We have compared serum thyroid hormone function parameters in a group of middle-aged offspring of long-living nonagenarian siblings and a control group of their partners, all participants of the Leiden Longevity Study. Results When compared with their partners, the group of offspring of nonagenarian siblings showed a trend toward higher serum thyrotropin levels (1.65 vs157 mU/L, p =. 11) in conjunction with lower free thyroxine levels (15.0 vs 15.2 pmol/L, p =. 045) and lower free triiodothyronine levels (4.08 vs 4.14 pmol/L, p =. 024). Conclusions Compared with their partners, the group of offspring of nonagenarian siblings show a lower thyroidal sensitivity to thyrotropin. These findings suggest that the favorable role of low thyroid hormone metabolism on health and longevity in model organism is applicable to humans as well.
KW - Endocrinology
KW - Longevity
KW - Thyroid
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950478167&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/gerona/glp200
DO - 10.1093/gerona/glp200
M3 - Article
C2 - 20018826
AN - SCOPUS:77950478167
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 65 A
SP - 365
EP - 368
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 4
ER -