The impact of regular moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise on controlled Hashimoto's diseased and/or hypothyroid female patients on thyroid hormones, resting metabolic rate, and heart rate variability: A pilot study

Abstract

Objectives
Assessment of the impact of regular moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise on the thyroid hormones, resting metabolic rate, and heart rate variability of female patients with controlled hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto's disease.

Equipment and methods
Sixteen participants, aged 29.5 ± 7.28 years were non-randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. The participants in the intervention group were required to follow a moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise program under supervision three times a week for eight weeks (supplementary file). All participants underwent the required tests before and after 8 weeks. Thyroid hormonal assessment was performed under an immunoassay analyzer (Cobas-e-801), while the resting metabolic rate was observed using a breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer (Cosmed Quark CPET). Heart rate variability was obtained through the HRV4Training application.

Results
The exercise program followed, significantly increased SDNN levels [F(1,28) = 0.030, P < 0.05] improving the heart rate variability of the intervention group. The thyroid hormone replacement therapy dosage of the intervention group remained accordingly stable with an overall decrease of 6.88 mg/week, while the dosage of the control group was increased by 65.62 mg/week. Statistically significant changes were not observed at any resting metabolic rate parameter. Overall, exercise possesses a beneficial effect on people with thyroid dysfunction.