Thyroglobulin as a marker of iodine nutrition status in the general population

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thyroglobulin as a marker of iodine nutrition status in the general population

AU - Vejbjerg, Pernille

AU - Knudsen, Nils

AU - Perrild, Hans

AU - Laurberg, Peter

AU - Carlé, Allan

AU - Pedersen, Inge Bülow

AU - Rasmussen, Lone B

AU - Ovesen, Lars

AU - Jørgensen, Torben

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological Markers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Deficiency Diseases; Denmark; Female; Humans; Iodine; Male; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Population; Prevalence; Prognosis; Thyroglobulin; Young Adult

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The iodine status of a population is traditionally evaluated by either urinary iodine (UI) excretion or by some measure of thyroid volume and the prevalence of goitre. In this prospective study of a mandatory iodization programme, we aimed to evaluate serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as a marker of iodine status in the population. METHODS: Two identical cross-sectional studies were performed before (1997-1998, n=4649) and after (2004-2005, n=3570) the initiation of the Danish iodization programme in two areas with mild and moderate iodine deficiency. Serum Tg was measured from blood samples. Thyroid volume was measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: Before iodization, the median serum Tg was considerably higher in moderate than in mild iodine deficiency. Iodization led to a lower serum Tg in all examined age groups. The marked pre-iodization difference in Tg level between the regions was eliminated. The prevalence of Tg above the suggested reference limit (40 microg/l) decreased from 11.3 to 3.7% (P<0.0001). Using bootstrapping, we demonstrated a higher efficacy of Tg than of thyroid volume to show a difference between pre- and post-iodization values. CONCLUSION: We found serum Tg to be a suitable marker of iodine nutrition status in the population. The results may suggest that the Danish iodization programme has led to a sufficient iodine intake, even if the median UI excretion is still marginally low according to WHO criteria.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The iodine status of a population is traditionally evaluated by either urinary iodine (UI) excretion or by some measure of thyroid volume and the prevalence of goitre. In this prospective study of a mandatory iodization programme, we aimed to evaluate serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as a marker of iodine status in the population. METHODS: Two identical cross-sectional studies were performed before (1997-1998, n=4649) and after (2004-2005, n=3570) the initiation of the Danish iodization programme in two areas with mild and moderate iodine deficiency. Serum Tg was measured from blood samples. Thyroid volume was measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: Before iodization, the median serum Tg was considerably higher in moderate than in mild iodine deficiency. Iodization led to a lower serum Tg in all examined age groups. The marked pre-iodization difference in Tg level between the regions was eliminated. The prevalence of Tg above the suggested reference limit (40 microg/l) decreased from 11.3 to 3.7% (P<0.0001). Using bootstrapping, we demonstrated a higher efficacy of Tg than of thyroid volume to show a difference between pre- and post-iodization values. CONCLUSION: We found serum Tg to be a suitable marker of iodine nutrition status in the population. The results may suggest that the Danish iodization programme has led to a sufficient iodine intake, even if the median UI excretion is still marginally low according to WHO criteria.

U2 - 10.1530/EJE-09-0262

DO - 10.1530/EJE-09-0262

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19556382

SN - 0804-4643

VL - 161

SP - 475

EP - 481

JO - European Journal of Endocrinology

JF - European Journal of Endocrinology

IS - 3

ER -