Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate individual serum thyroglobulin (Tg) changes in relation to iodine fortification (IF) and to clarify possible predictors of these changes.
DESIGN: We performed a longitudinal population-based study (DanThyr) in two regions with different iodine intake at baseline: Aalborg (moderate iodine deficiency (ID)) and Copenhagen (mild ID). Participants were examined at baseline (1997) before the mandatory IF of salt (2000) and again at follow-up (2008) after IF.
METHODS: We examined 2,465 adults and a total of 1,417 participants with no previous thyroid disease and without Tg-autoantibodies were included in the analyses. Serum Tg was measured by immunoradiometric method. We registered participants with a daily intake of iodine from supplements in addition to IF.
RESULTS: Overall, the follow-up period saw no change in median Tg in Copenhagen (9.1/9.1μg/l, p=0.67) while Tg decreased significantly in Aalborg (11.4/9.0μg/l, p<0.001). Regional differences were evident before IF (Copenhagen/Aalborg, 9.1/11.4μg/l, p<0.001), whereas no differences existed after IF (9.1/9.0μg/l, p=1.00). Living in Aalborg (p<0.001) and not using iodine supplements at baseline (p=0.001) predicted a decrease in Tg whereas baseline thyroid enlargement (p=0.02) and multinodularity (p=0.01) were associated with an individual increase in Tg during follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: After IF we observed a decrease in median Tg in Aalborg and the previously observed regional differences between Aalborg and Copenhagen had levelled out. Likewise, living in Aalborg was a strong predictor of an individual decrease in serum Tg. Thus, even small differences in iodine intake at baseline were very important for the individual response to IF.
Original language | English |
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Journal | European Journal of Endocrinology |
Volume | 173 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 573-581 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 0804-4643 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |