title: Elevated Serum Thyroglobulin and Low Iodine Intake Are Associated with Nontoxic Nodular Goiter among Adults Living near the Eastern Mediterranean Coast.
abstract: Background. Information about iodine intake is crucial for preventing thyroid diseases. Inadequate iodine intake can lead to thyroid diseases, including nontoxic nodular goiter (NNG). Objective. To estimate iodine intake and explore its correlation with thyroid diseases among Israeli adults living near the Mediterranean coast, where iodine-depleted desalinated water has become a major source of drinking water. Methods. Cross-sectional study of patients attending Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon. Participants, who were classified as either NNG (n = 17), hypothyroidism (n = 14), or control (n = 31), provided serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and completed a semiquantitative iodine food frequency questionnaire. Results. Elevated serum Tg values (Tg > 60 ng/mL) were significantly more prevalent in the NNG group than in the other groups (29% versus 7% and 0% for hypothyroidism and controls, resp., P < 0.05). Mean estimated iodine intake was significantly lower in the NNG group (65 ± 30 μg/d) than in controls (115 ± 60 μg/d) (P < 0.05) with intermediate intake in the hypothyroid group (73 ± 38 μg/d). Conclusions. Elevated serum Tg values and low dietary iodine intake are associated with NNG among adult patients in Ashkelon District, Israel. Larger studies are needed in order to expand on these important initial findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "C", Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon, Hahistadrout Street 2, 7830604 Ashkelon, Israel ; Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory, School of Nutritional Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaniv S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ovadia
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "C", Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon, Hahistadrout Street 2, 7830604 Ashkelon, Israel ; Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory, School of Nutritional Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gefel
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Clinic, Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon, Hahistadrout Street 2, 7830604 Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkot
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon, Hahistadrout Street 2, 7830604 Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aharoni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Barzilai Medical Center Ashkelon, Hahistadrout Street 2, 7830604 Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fytlovich
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory, School of Nutritional Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Aron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Troen