Association between obesity and thyroid cancer in women: a comparative study of malignant and benign nodules

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Abstract
Introduction: Obesity is a disease that induces various changes in the body, including oxidative stress, which can contribute to the development of cancer cells in the thyroid. Objective: Evaluate whether the presence of obesity and antioxidant defense is associated with the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules in adult women. Methods: The cross-sectional study consisted of 109 females diagnosed with nodular thyroid disease who underwent thyroidectomy surgery, with benignity or malignancy classification previously defined by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) and the Bethesda system. The participants had anthropometric and clinical markers assessed before the surgical process. The prevalence ratio of malignant nodules with obesity and antioxidant markers was determined using Poisson regression analysis. Results: After biopsy analysis, 70 women were diagnosed with a benign nodule and 39 with a malignant nodule. A significant association was found between body mass index and nodule type (p<0.015). All but one participant had glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity above the reference values. The prevalence of malignant nodules was significantly higher in women diagnosed with obesity (PR=1.94; 95% CI: 1.01 - 3.17; p=0.046) compared to those without obesity. Antioxidant markers showed no association with nodule malignancy. Conclusion: The prevalence of malignant thyroid nodules in adult women is higher in those who are obese, and the presence of thyroid nodules, regardless of their type, can influence the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity.