title: Effect of zinc supplementation on the zinc level in serum and urine and their relation to thyroid hormone profile in male and female goitrous patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zinc (Zn) is an essential element involved in many basic biochemical reactions in thyroid. The aims of present study is to evaluate the Zn status in biological samples and thyroid hormones levels in 60 goitrous male (GMPs) and 72 female patients (GFPs), before and after 6 months treatment with Zn supplementation and compared with non-goitrous subjects of both genders (M=106, F=120) of age range 16-30 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biological samples were analyzed for Zn concentration using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, following their microwave assisted acid digestion. Quality control for the methodology was established with certified samples and with those obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on the same CRMs and real samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the significantly lower mean values of Zn in serum, while high level urine samples of GMPs and GFPs were observed as compared to control subjects (p<0.005 and 0.007) respectively. The mean values of free triiodothyronine and thyroxin were found to be lower in goitrous patients of both genders than in the age matched healthy control (p<0.006 and 0.002) respectively, in contrast high mean values of thyroid stimulating hormone were detected in GMPs and GFPs (p<0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was observed that Zn status and serum thyroid hormone levels were improved in goitrous patients after six months treatment with Zn supplementation.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Sindh, Pakistan. gakandhro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ghulam Abbas
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kandhro
authors.forename: Tasneem Gul
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Hassan Imran
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Afridi
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Jameel Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Mohammad Balal
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.lastname: Sirajuddin
authors.forename: Abdul Qadir
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Raja Adil
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sarfraz
authors.forename: Mohammad Khan
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jamali
authors.forename: Nasreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Syed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006042:Goiter / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014131:Trace Elements; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D015032:Zinc; D013974:Thyroxine