Affiliations: Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Nemazee
Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Gholamhossein Omrani, MD, Professor
of Internal Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Nemazee
Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Tel.: +98 711
6281473; Fax: +98 711 6281473; E-mail: dabbaghm@sums.ac.ir
Abstract: Selenium deficiency can have adverse effect on thyroid metabolism
and response to iodine supplementation. The aim of this study was to determine
relationship between prevalence of goiter, thyroid hormone profile, urinary
iodine and serum selenium concentrations in Iranian schoolchildren. In a cross-
sectional study, 1188 schoolchildren in the age group of 8–13 years were
evaluated for goiter prevalence. Urine and serum samples were collected from
500 children and assayed for urinary iodine concentration, thyroid hormone
profile and serum selenium concentration. The overall goiter prevalence was
39.6% and the median urinary iodine excretion, indicated to an adequate
iodine intake. The mean serum selenium concentration was 119.1
± 31 μg/l with significant
difference between boys and girls (108.4 ±
26.2 μg/l vs 127.7 ±
32.1 μg/l). An increase in free T4 concentration was
observed in those with a lower selenium level and there was a significant
relationship between the presence or absence of goiter and serum selenium
concentration. Selenium supplementation may be an advisable measure to optimize
thyroid hormone metabolism and decrease the prevalence of goiter in
schoolchildren with low serum selenium concentration.
