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.