Does How Caffeine Can Increase Thyroid Hormone Levels?

The energy balance is stimulated by hormonal concentrations, physical exercise and diet. Thus, the amount of circulating thyroid hormones (TH) in the bloodstream directly influences the energy balance. Caffeine and exercise have the effect of increasing TH concentrations, increasing the action of these hormones and consequently the energy balance. In addition, the reduction of physical exercise reduces TH values, leading to a reduction in the energy balance. The caffeine ingestion changed the metabolic homeostasis, there is a reduction of TH concentration, triggering a balance in the influx of cellular substrates and perhaps, a greater catalytic action of the energetic substrates, in tissues such as the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, as well as, a production and liberation of energy by the cell, due to the increased concentration of intracellular Ca2+ caused by caffeine [1].

Some studies have reported in animals that TH regulates the transcription of various genes expressed in skeletal muscle, such as type I myosin heavy-chain (MHC), act in and sacoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase pump [2,3]. In addition, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may, respectively, reduce and increase uptake of Ca2+ by SR [4]. As results of TH effects on MHC expression and Ca2+ uptake, the reduction in skeletal muscle shortening speed increases with increased TH levels [5]. Still, slow fibers exhibit greater sensitivity to TH than fast ones. With physiological limits, increased activity of TH may be associated with an increased efficiency of mechanical workout by muscles during training [6]. It is known that high doses of caffeine (200 mg/kg) may affect the secretion of several hormones, and in short-term experiments (1week) a reduction in TSH secretion was shown after a daily caffeine intake [7]. Bartsch et al. [8] aimed to elucidate the effect of a sub-chronical consumption of caffeine over thyroid (per 90 days-104mg/kg/ day). This study demonstrated an increase of body weight to the animals that consumed caffeine, however, no alterations occurred in T3 and T4 levels, adrenal weight, histopathology of thyroid on the 21st and 90th day. Spindel et al. [9] showed that caffeine may reduce TSH and GH concentration in a dosage of 50mg/Kg. The reduction of TSH was followed by a T3 and T4 reduction after 4h of caffeine administration. In vitro, caffeine did not alter significantly the hormonal secretion of pituitary cells.

THs being used during exercise are described in the literature for a few decades. Analysis of TH levels of professional cyclists during 3 weeks of competition showed that T4, T3 levels increased significantly in the last week of competition and TSH concentrations did not change [10]. This shows that the influence of exercise to control the energy balance is fundamental for weight control and also for performance. The non-alteration in TSH levels may be influenced by the slight alteration in T3 and T4 levels presented, since other studies show changes in TSH at greater intensities of exercise. Huang et al. [11] showed changes in T3 and T4 levels during an exercise session. According to the author, the possible cause of increased TSH levels may be due to secretion of the pituitary serving as a fill of the increased use of peripheral TH induced by exercise [12].

Exercise intensity also appears to affect the mechanism of TH release. Increased metabolic activity through physical training on TH is related to exercise intensity and which hormones are most severely affected. When an increase in intensity occurs, ranging from 45 to 70%, all TH, except for TSH, increase, close to the anaerobic threshold (70% HRmax). Thus, the caffeine associated or not to exercise has a direct influence on the concentrations of TH, leading to important effects on the energy balance and consequently on the physical performance control and stocking of substrates.

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