PSAT327 Can Cannabis Use Lead to Central Hypothyroidism

The study presented a clinical case of a 72-year-old male with a history of regular marijuana use and symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, and heat intolerance. His lab results showed persistently low TSH levels over four years with normal free T4 and total T3 levels, and no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease. Thyroid ultrasound and radioactive iodine scans were unremarkable. The study concluded that while there are no controlled studies on marijuana's effect on thyroid function in humans, existing data, including a cross-sectional analysis from NHANES, suggest an association between marijuana use and lower TSH levels. This could be due to hypothalamic suppression of TSH or a protective role against hypothyroidism, supported by older rodent studies. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms remain speculative due to limited human data.