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Zinc status in goitrous school children of Semirom, Iran

Moedoeb Mohammad Hassan نويسنده , Hassanzadeh Keshfeli Ammar نويسنده , Destjerdi Mansour Siavash نويسنده , Rezvenisn Hasan نويسنده , Aminorroeye Ashraf نويسنده , AMINI MASOUD نويسنده , Kecnuei Ali نويسنده , Heshemlpour Mahin نويسنده

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BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency produces the spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) including endemic goiter , hypothyroidism, cretinism and congenital anomalies. Other factors , including goitrogens and micronutrient deficiencies may influence the prevalence and severity of IDDs and response to iodine supplementation. An association between zinc and goiter has previously been reported . METHODS: A cross sectional study investigating an association between goiter and serum zinc status was performed in 2003 in a mountainous region of Iran. One thousand eight hundred twenty-eight children were selected by multistage cluster sampling. Goiter staging was performed by inspection and palpation. Serum zinc, total thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone and urinary iodine concentration were measured in a group of these children . RESULTS : Thirty six and seven tenth percent of subjects were classified as goitrous . Serum zinc level in goitrous and nongoitrous children was 82.80 ± 17.85 and 83.38 ± 16.25 ug/dl, respectively (p = 0.81). The prevalence of zinc deficiency (serum zinc :s 65 ug/dl) in goitrous and nongoitrous children did not differ significantly (9.3 % vs. 10.8%, P = 0.70). CONCLUSION: Goiter is still a public health problem in Semirom. According to the present study zinc status may not playa role in the etiology of goiter in Semirom school children . However, the role of other goitrogens or micronutrient deficiencies should be investigated in this region.

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