The relationship between iron status and thyroid hormones in adolescents living in an iodine deficient area.

Background: Iron may be only one of many nutritional factors that influence thyroid hormone metabolism in iodine-deficient areas.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of iron status on thyroid hormone profile in adolescents living in a mild iodine-deficient area in Turkey.

Subjects: Three hundred and thirty school-aged children with mean age 14 years were examined.

Methods: Free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine and thyrotropin levels were analyzed by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were measured with a Hemocounter. Iron and total iron binding capacity concentration were determined by colorimetric photometric methods. Ferritin level was determined by immunoturbidimetry.

Results: Thyroid hormone levels of the children with anemia were not significantly different compared to children without anemia. No significant correlation was found between thyroid hormones and iron status.

Conclusion: The thyroid hormone profile was not significantly affected in this area. This survey showed no correlation between iron status and thyroid hormone levels.