Impact of Hypothyroidism on Serum Malondialdehyde and Lipid Levels in Indian Punjabi Population

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophyiology of various diseases like thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism is widely believed to impair health. The pathological consequences of hypothyroidism point to a high potential for oxidant: antioxidant imbalance. The biochemical factors mediating decline in health, however, are poorly elucidated. Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of hypothyroidism on the metabolic state and oxidative stress by evaluating malondialdehyde levels along with lipid profile in hypothyroidism patients of north Indian population. Material and Methods: 50 patients with hypothyroidism (study group) and an equal number of age-matched healthy controls (n=50, control group) of both sexes were recruited in the present study. The fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects of both groups for the estimation of malondialdehyde and lipid profile levels. Results: The malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) in hypothyroidism patients with respected to control subjects. Significantly higher values were observed in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels while a significant decrease was seen in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels as compared to the control. Conclusion: These observations suggest that people with hypothyroidism have high risk of free radical damage