The effects of total fasting for 31 ± 10 days followed by re-alimentation with an 800 calorie diet on thyroid function, i.e. T4,T3, rT3, RT3U (resin T3 uptake), and TSH, and on TBG levels in serum were studied sequentially in obese hospitalized patients (N = 18). Additionally, cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, parathyrin and free fatty acids were followed as hormonal and metabolic parameters, respectively. Further, CBG, transferrin, α2-haptoglobin and complement C'3 were measured as representatives of other serum proteins. Results before fasting: T4, T3,3, TBG, cortisol, CBG, α2-haptoglobin and complement C'3 of the obese patients were elevated when compared with healthy normal weight controls, whereas rT3, T4/TBG ratio, T3/TBG ratio, TSH, cortisol/CBG ratio, growth hormone, prolactin, parathyrin and transferrin of the obese group were normal. RT3U and fT4 index were decreased in the obese patients. Results during fasting: Significant decreases were observed during fasting for the following parameters – T3, TBG, T3/TBG ratio, transferrin, α2-haptoglobin, complement C'3. rT3, T4/TBG ratio, RT3U, fT4 index and FFA increased. T4, TSH response to TRH stimulation, cortisol, CBG, cortisol/CBG ratio, parathyrin, growth hormone and prolactin did not change. Results during re-alimentation: T3, TBG, T3/TBG ratio, TSH response to TRH, transferrin, α2-haptoglobin and complement C'3 increased. Conversely, rT3, RT3U, FFA, cortisol and cortisol/CBG ratio decreased, whereas the other parameters did not change. Conclusions: 1) There is no evidence for primary hypothyroidism in obese patients during prolonged fasting and re-alimentation. 2) The rapid decrease of T3 and increase of RT3U after initiation of fasting are not fully explained by the observed slower decreases in TBG. 3) The alterations of T3, rT3 and RT3U resemble in their kinetics the changes in FFA levels. 4) Fasting reduced the levels of only certain serum proteins, interestingly TBG, transferrin, α2-haptoglobin and complement C'3, all of which, except transferrin, are elevated in obesity. 5) The magnitude of the observed decreases does not suggest any clinically relevant deficiencies in serum proteins. 6) Re-alimentation reverses rapidly all observed changes.

Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a Munich population group: Relations to age and sexSummary: Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined in 814 subjects and the relation to age, sex and body weight evaluated. In 568 persons the body mass index (BMI) and the relative body weight according to Broca were calculated. Normal values for each age group were established. Serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and the body mass index showed an age dependent rise in the male and the female population. The body mass index showed a positive correlation with the serum triglycerides, but did not correlate with the serum cholesterol levels. The correlation between body mass index and serum triglycerides was not age dependent.Thus, our data stress the relation between overweight and hypertriglyceridaemia.

Summary: Over 100 laboratories participated in an external quality-control survey (EQCS) for T 3 and T 4 , using the Munich Model as conceived in this laboratory ((1-4) : Marschner,!, et al. (1974), Horm. Met. Res. 6, 293-296; Horn,K. et al. (1976), this J. 14,353-360; Marschner J. et al. (1976), this J. 14,345-351; Wood, W. G. et al. (1980), this J. 18, 183-192) and carried out over the past 6 years. Twenty lyophilised serum samples, including independant hidden standard curves for T 3 and T 4 , were dispatched by post together with a detailed questionnaire and full instructions on reconstitution of the samples. The returned data were processed as previously described ((4): Wood, W. G. et al. (1980), this J. 18,183-192) and each participant received a full analysis of his«own data and a set of histogrammes with which he could visually check his performance against other laboratories. An explanatory letter was sent, which explained the computer print-out, the coding of the kits and contained a constructive report of the participant's performance and helpful advice as to how to improve the assay if this was necessary.From 110 laboratories returning data for T 3 , 86 were fully useable, 22 partly and 2 unuseable because T 3 -uptake had been performed instead of T 3 -radioimmunoassay (RIA). From 124 laboratories returning T 4 EQCS data, 102 were fully useable and 22 partly useable. In both cases the partly useable sets of data did not contain important items such as the count rates (or absorption values) for each serum, needed for construction and read-off of values from curves I and II. For T 3 , intra-assay coefficients of variation (c. v.) of under 5% were seen in 40 cases, and a c. v. of over 15% in 27 cases (range 15-67%). For T 4 ,69 participants had a c. v. under 5% and only 7 laboratories had a c. v. above 15% (range 15-41%). The vast majority of participants used commercial kits (T 3 = 90, T 4 = 106).The results of this EQCS showed a considerable improvement in the five and a half year period since the last EQCS for T 3 and T 4 . This is reflected in the intra-assay c. v., especially in the T 3 -EQCS where the mean coefficient of variation in 1974 was 152% for the three samples and in 1979 for three samples with a similar T 3 -content only 31%. Furthermore, some of the kits now on the market show the "ruggedness" desired byJEkins ( (5) Ein zweiter Ringversuch filr Triiodthyronin (T$) und Thyroxin (T 4 ) im SerumZusammenfassung: Über 100 Laboratorien nahmen an einem externen Ringversuch für T 3 und T 4 nach dem sogenannten ,JMünchner Modell", das hier entwickelt ((1-4): Marschner, 1. et al. (1974), Horm. Met. Res. 6, 293-296; Horn,K. et al.(1976), this J.14, 353-360;Marschner, L et al. (1976), this J. 14, 345-351; Wood, W. G. et al. (1980), this 1:18,183-192) und in den vergangenen 6 Jahren durchgeführt wurde, teil. Zwanzig lyophilisierte Serumproben einschließlich versteckter Standardkurven für T 3 und T 4 wurden mit der Post, zusammen mit einem detaillierten Fragebogen und ausfuhrlichen Vorschrift...

No abstract

Attention before copying! Do you photocopy articles from this periodical? If so, have you made certain that you are not violating the legal copyright regulations and making yourself liable to prosecution? According to copyright law it is only permissible to make a few copies of individual articles for personal use. Reproduction of articles for commercial use by an industrial enterprise is subject to charge. Detailed information can be obtained free of charge from the VG Wissenschaft GmbH, "Copyright", Großer Hirschgraben 17-21, D-6000 Frankfurt/Main, this company being responsible for collection of copying fees.