Effect of thiocyanate ingestion through milk on thyroid hormone homeostasis in women.
A thyroid-hormonal evaluation of thirty-five women consuming commercially packed milk containing thiocyanate was carried out. The mean serum thiocyanate concentration, which was measured by the FeCl3 colour test, was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of control subjects. Serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations of exposed women were compared with those of thirty-five control subjects. Thiocyanate ingestion was associated with lower levels of T4 (P < 0.01) and higher levels of TSH (P < 0.01) compared with the control subjects. T3 was found to be higher in the women consuming thiocyanate-containing milk but the difference was not significant. The serum T4 level was found to be negatively correlated (r -0.359, P < 0.05) while the TSH level was positively correlated (r 0.354, P < 0.05) with thiocyanate concentration in the exposed group. From this study, it appears that ingestion of milk with added thiocyanate impairs thyroid function.
Banerjee
K K
KK
All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, India.
Marimuthu
P
P
Bhattacharyya
P
P
Chatterjee
M
M
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D013861:Thiocyanates; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine