Thyroid function and thyroglobulin level in iodine deficient children of eastern Nepal

Abstract

Objective: Both iodine deficiency and excess can negatively impact thyroid function. The present study was conducted to assess iodine nutrition among children and thyroid function in iodine deficient children. Results: A total of 1012 school aged children (6-14 years) from several schools of Udayapur district were enrolled initially for the assessment of urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Blood samples (n=83) were collected from a subgroup of children who had UIC<100 µg/L to measure serum thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4). Serum UIC was measured by ammonium persulfate digestion method and Tg, TSH, fT4 and fT3 were measured by ELISA kits from Diametra Company. The prevalence of insufficient UIC (UIC<100 µg/L) was 11.1% in school children’s of Udayapur district. The median UIC was 236 µg/L. The mean fT3, fT4 and TSH among children with insufficient UIC were 2.55±0.43 pg/mL, 0.96±0.28 ng/dL and 3.60±1.44 mIU/L respectively. The Median Tg was 17.5 ng/mL. Overt hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was seen in 6% and 3.6% cases with UIC<100 µg/L respectively.