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Background: Weight gain post-radioiodine (RAI) treatment is observed in patients with hyperthyroid Graves’ disease. Previous studies, mostly in Caucasian patients, demonstrated excessive weight gain averaging 5–7 kg from initial presentation. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the extent and risk factors of weight gain in Thai patients with RAI-treated Graves’ disease. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study of patients with hyperthyroid Graves’ disease who received RAI treatment during 2016–2020. The proportion and associated risk factors of weight gain ≥5% in patients who was followed for at least 3 months when compared with weight at RAI administration were analyzed. Results: There were 347 patients with Graves’ disease (females 81.0%, mean age 38.8 ± 12.1 years, BMI 23.3 ± 4.0 kg/m2) who were treated with RAI. Almost all RAI-treated patients (91.9%) eventually developed hypothyroidism. During the median follow-up period of 25 months, 73.1% of them had weight gain. The mean weight change was +2.5 ± 4.9 kgs when compared with weight at the time RAI administration and +3.4 ± 6.5 kgs when compared with recalled body weight before the onset of hyperthyroidism. The proportion of patient in the obesity class I (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2) increased from 23.6% to 28.0% and obesity class II (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2) increased from 5.2% to 8.9%. Duration of antithyroid drug treatment less than 6 months after the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was the only factor associated with weight gain ≥5%. Conclusions: Weight gain post-RAI treatment was common, and a significant proportion of patients went on to develop obesity. Early intervention with weight management support should be employed in patients with less than 6 months of antithyroid drug treatment before RAI.

Abstract Background Numerous emerging data from research on osteoporosis among Asians found differences from Caucasians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and osteoporosis in elderly participants from two nursing homes in Thailand, a country located near the equator. Methods The subjects of this cross-sectional study comprised 93 elderly Thai women who were living in institutional long-term nursing homes for the aged. Demographic data, daily food and calcium intake, physical activity, and sunlight exposure were measured. Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical levels including serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and bone turnover markers were assessed. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D level Results The mean age of subjects was 75.2 ± 6.0 (SD) years. Dietary calcium intake was low (322 ± 158 mg/day) The mean 25(OH)D level was 64.3 ± 14.9 nmol/L and the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 38.7% (95% CI: 28.8%, 49.4%). There was no correlation between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and age (r = −.11, p = 0.3). The mean BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck were 0.92 ± 0.19 and 0.65 ± 0.10 g/cm2, respectively. Nearly a half of the subjects had osteopenia (44.1%, 95% CI: 33.8%, 54.8%) and osteoporosis (47.3%, 95% CI: 36.9%, 57.9%). Circulating C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx) level correlated significantly with both lumbar spine (r = −0.26, p = 0.01) and femoral neck BMD (r = −0.25, p = 0.02). Conclusions More than one-third of Thai elderly women residing in nursing homes had vitamin D insufficiency. Almost all nursing home residents had osteoporosis and/or osteopenia.

Abstract Background The incidence of fractures in rural populations is lower than in urban populations, although the reason for this difference is unclear. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the difference in bone mineral density (BMD), a primary predictor of fracture risk, between urban and rural Thai populations. Methods Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar, Madison, WI) in 411 urban and 436 rural subjects (340 men and 507 women), aged between 20 and 84 years. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height. Results After adjusting for age and body weight in an analysis of covariance model, femoral neck BMD in rural men and women was significantly higher than those in urban men and women (P < 0.001), but the difference was not observed at the lumbar spine. After stratifying by sex, age group, and BMI category, the urban-rural difference in femoral neck BMD became more pronounced in men and women aged 2. Conclusions These data suggest that femoral neck BMD in rural men and women was higher than their counterparts in urban areas. This difference could potentially explain part of the urban-rural difference in fracture incidence.

From the earliest days of antibiotics, scientists have warned that without careful management of the way these powerful drugs are used, pathogens could quickly develop defences against them. Today, antimicrobial [...]