Thyroid Function Alterations Linked to Respiratory Allergies, study shows
Researchers have found that thyroid function has a significant role in the complex interplay between metabolic, endocrine, and immune responses in respiratory allergy patients, such as those with allergic rhinitis and asthma. The study was conducted by Lokaj-Berisha and fellow researchers published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Allergic rhinitis and asthma have multifactorial etiologies involving specific genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, and the immune response. Other less-known factors that may be involved are related to thyroid function. This study aimed to examine the correlation between respiratory allergy and serum levels of thyroid hormones in 66 allergic rhinitis patients, 20 suffering concomitantly from asthma, and 30 controls without these symptoms.
Participants were evaluated for BMI, serum IgE, and thyroid hormone levels, including T3, T4, and TSH. Skin prick tests were done to assess the sensitivity of participants to allergens, and a family history of atopy was noted. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to evaluate the relationship between age, BMI, thyroid hormones, and sex-specific differences.
Key Findings
• Participant Demographics: The mean age of the participants is 29.55 years. Out of the participants, 66.4% have a family history of atopy.
• Allergen Sensitivities : Skin prick test showed that house dust mites are the most common cause of allergy with 55.2% sensitivity.
• Serum IgE Levels: Patients with respiratory allergies also had significantly higher serum IgE levels (mean = 36.85 IU/mL) among the patients with both allergic rhinitis and asthma (mean = 218 IU/mL).
• Thyroid Hormone Differences: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups concerning serum T4 levels in allergic rhinitis (p< 0.001 and p<0.05).
• Metabolic and Endocrine Correlations: The correlation analysis revealed correlations between age, BMI, and thyroid hormones and showed sex-specific differences (p<0.05 and p<0.01).
• BMI was within normal limits in all study groups, meaning that there is no direct metabolic abnormality with regard to thyroid function or respiratory allergies.
This study illustrates that alterations in thyroid function are significantly associated with respiratory allergies, especially in males. The endocrine, metabolic, and immune systems interactions may become potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Further research would be required to study the underlying mechanisms and develop personalized treatments for the individuals affected.
Reference:
Lokaj-Berisha, V., Gacaferri Lumezi, B. Increased thyroxine levels of patients with allergic rhinitis. Sci Rep 15, 2667 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85762-0
