• Gonzalez RodriguezElenaECenter of Bone Diseases, Rheumatology Unit, Bone and Joint Department, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Lausan, Mirah Stuber, Cinzia Del Giovane, Martin Feller, Tinh-Hai Collet, Axel L Löwe, Manuel R Blum, Nicolien A van Vliet, Diana van Heemst, Patricia M Kearney, Jacobijn Gussekloo, Simon Mooijaart, WestendorpRudi G JRGJDepartment of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., David J Stott, Daniel Aeberli, Douglas C Bauer, Didier Hans, and Nicolas Rodondi.
• Center of Bone Diseases, Rheumatology Unit, Bone and Joint Department, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
• J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2020 Jan 1; 105 (1).

ContextBoth thyroid dysfunction and levothyroxine (LT4) therapy have been associated with bone loss, but studies on the effect of LT4 for subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) on bone yielded conflicting results.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of LT4 treatment on bone mineral density (BMD), Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), and bone turnover markers (BTMs) in older adults with SHypo.Design And InterventionPlanned nested substudy of the double-blind placebo-controlled TRUST trial. Participants with SHypo were randomized to LT4 with dose titration versus placebo with computerized mock titration.Setting And Participants196 community-dwelling adults over 65 years enrolled at the Swiss TRUST sites had baseline and 1-year follow-up bone examinations; 4 participants withdrew due to adverse events not related to treatment.Main Outcome MeasuresOne-year percentage changes of BMD, TBS, and 2 serum BTMs (serum CTX-1 [sCTX] and procollagen type 1 N-terminal polypeptide [P1NP]). Student's t-test for unadjusted analyses and linear regression adjusted for clinical center and sex were performed.ResultsMean age was 74.3 years ± 5.7, 45.4% were women, and 19.6% were osteoporotic. The unadjusted 1-year change in lumbar spine BMD was similar between LT4 (+0.8%) and placebo-treated groups (-0.6%; between-groups difference +1.4%: 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.1 to 2.9, P = .059). Likewise, there were no between-group differences in 1-year change in TBS (-1.3%: 95% CI -3.1 to 0.6, P = .19), total hip BMD (-0.2%: 95% CI -1.1 to 0.1, P = .61), or BTMs levels (sCTX +24.1%: 95% CI -7.9 to 56.2, P = .14), or after adjustment for clinical centers and sex.ConclusionsOver 1-year levothyroxine had no effect on bone health in older adults with SHypo.RegistrationClinicalTrial.gov NCT01660126 and NCT02491008.© Endocrine Society 2020. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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