title: Iodine, copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum levels in children aged between 6 and 12 years in the rural area with iodine deficiency and in the city center without iodine deficiency in Hatay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroid diseases related with iodine deficiency are observed commonly in our country and in the world. In this study, we aimed to investigate iodine deficiency in urine and selenium, zinc, copper or molybdenum deficiency which may accompany this in children aged between 6 and 12 years in two schools in the province of Hatay (endemic goitre region).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a case-control field-study in which students aged between 6 and 12 years were included. One hundred fourteen subjects from the village of Tanışma related to the center of our province and 100 subjects from the city center of Hatay (Antakya) were included in the study. Iodine, selenium, zinc, copper and molybdenum levels were measured in the urine samples of the students included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iodine deficiency was found with a severe (5%), moderate (18.4%) and mild degree (43%), respectively in the village of Tanışma. Mild iodine deficiency (7%) was found in the center of Hatay. No moderate and severe iodine deficiency was found in the control group. A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of urine iodine excretion (p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between the levels of iodine, selenium, zinc and molybdenum (p<0.05). A moderately positive correlation was found between iodine and selenium (p<0.001). A moderately positive correlation was found between iodine and zinc levels (p<0.001) and a weak correlation was found between iodine and molybdenum (p<0.01). No significant correlation was found between iodine level and copper level (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selenium and zinc deficiency may accompany iodine deficiency. Selenium and zinc deficiency should be considered in individuals who are found to have iodine deficiency especially in endemic goitre regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tanju
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Çelik
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Savaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurtoğlu
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pediatrics, Hatay Public Hospital, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Sangün
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Didin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Division of Food, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Agriculture, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oktay Hasan
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mısırlıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Düzen Laboratory, Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Öktem
keywords: Endemic goitre; iodine deficiency; trace elements