Constipation and hypofunction of the thyroid glandMyth or reality?

Czech version

Authors: M. Nývltová; K. Drbalová
Authors‘ workplace: Interní klinika 1. LF UK a ÚVN-VFN, Praha
Published in: Gastroent Hepatol 2012; 66(4): 256-258
Category: Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology: Review Article

Overview

Thyroid disorders are very common diseases. Their prevalence increases with age, and women are affected more often. The wide range of clinical symptoms traditionally includes evacuation disorders, i.e. constipation in patients with hypothyroidism and diarrhoea in patients with thyretoxicosis. However, a search of literature reveals that there is a paucity of evidence-based publications confirming constipation as a frequent symptom of hypothyroidism. In order to find a causal relationship between hypothyroidism and constipation, three conditions would have to be present: a higher prevalence of constipation in patients with hypothyroidism, the presence of specific abnormalities such as longer transit time in patients with hypothyroidism, and finally the effectiveness of substitution therapy. However, the data fulfilling these three conditions are missing in evidence-based medicine. Neither do our data confirm constipation as a frequent symptom of hypothyroidism. In summary, hypothyroidism is a rare finding in patients with isolated constipation and testing of the thyroid function in these patients is not beneficial.

Key words:
constipation –⁠ hypothyroidism –⁠ thyroid gland

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE „uniform requirements“ for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
14. 6. 2012

Accepted:
10. 8. 2012

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