ArticleDigestive diseases and sciences2025
Low Utility of Routine Thyroid Function Testing for Bowel Symptoms: A Population-Based Assessment.
Article in Digestive diseases and sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence (FI) are prevalent with significant impact on quality of life and healthcare utilization. Thyroid dysfunction was recognized as a potential contributor to bowel disturbances in selected populations, but the strength/consistency of this association remain unclear.
aimsTo investigate the relationship between thyroid function and bowel health measures (constipation, diarrhea, and FI) in a nationally representative sample of the U.S. POPULATION:
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2005-2008. Adults aged ≥ 20 with TSH, free T4 (fT4), and bowel health data were included. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between thyroid function and bowel health measures, adjusting for potential confounders.
resultsAmong 6,552 participants, 93.6%, 4.3%, 1.7%, and 0.4% had TSH levels of 0.24-5.4, 5.4-10, < 0.24, and ≥ 10 mIU/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in prevalence of thyroid dysfunction between individuals with constipation or diarrhea and those without. In fully adjusted models, TSH was not a significant predictor of constipation, diarrhea, or FI, but higher fT4 was protective against constipation as a continuous variable (OR 0.47, CI: 0.26-0.85, p = 0.014)). Neither hypothyroid nor hyperthyroid status significantly correlated with constipation or diarrhea, although hyperthyroidism was associated with FI (OR 3.58, CI:1.51-8.49, p = 0.005).
conclusionWhile bowel disturbances were common in this nationally representative sample, the yield of thyroid function testing was low. Overt hypo- and hyperthyroidism were not significantly associated with constipation or diarrhea. Clinical utility of routine thyroid testing for bowel symptoms may be low in patients without systemic manifestations of severe thyroid disease.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.