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2019: Fluorosis - Impact on Thyroid Hormones

Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 4:51 pm
by admin
Sinhamahapatra P, Banerjee S, Lahiri S - "Fluorosis and its impact on thyroid hormones: a cross-sectional study in Bankura District, West Bengal, India" Int J Res Med Sci 7(6):2204-2209 (2019)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20192499

Background: Fluorosis is an important public health problem in India. Fluoride ions can interact with iodide which can lead to abnormal thyroid function.

Methods: The present descriptive, community-based study was conducted over a period of 1 year and 6 months in the endemic and non-endemic areas of Bankura district with the sample size of 200. High serum fluoride level (≥0.02mg/L) was also noted in fluorosis-endemic areas (39%) with respect to non-endemic areas (3%). Thyroid profiles were investigated among the participants.

Results: Hypothyroidism was found to be higher in proportion in endemic regions (34%) with respect to non-endemic regions (20%). The levels of serum TSH, fT4 and fluoride in endemic areas were correlated significantly with non-endemic areas. Fluoride level was found to be in significant positive correlation with TSH level and in negative significant correlation with fT4 and fT3.

Conclusions: High fluoride level could produce hypofunctioning of thyroid gland and so hypothyroidism was found to be higher in proportion in fluorosis endemic areas in respect to non-endemic areas.