Iodine and zinc, but not selenium and copper, deficiency exists in a male Turkish population with endemic goiter

Although endemic goiter has been shown to have a high prevalence in Turkey, little is known about the concentration of urinary iodine, plasma selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in these patients. We studied on 140 male patient with endemic goiter (mean age: 22.2 +/- 0.19 yr) and 140 healthy m ale subjects (mean age: 21.8 +/- 0.28 yr). Daily urinary iodine excretion w as determined by the ionometric method. Plasma Se, Zn, and Cu were determin ed by using atomic absorption spectrometry. Daily urinary iodine excretion was found to be significantly lower in the patient group (38.7 +/- 2.26 mu g/d) than that of controls (50.73 +/- 2.56 mu g/day, p = 0.001). Plasma Zn concentrations were also found to be significantly lower in the patient gro up (1.04 +/- 0.03 mu g/mL) than that of controls (1.16 +/- 0.02 mu g/mL, p = 0.001). No significant difference was determined in Se and Cu concentrati ons between the patient and control groups. Our study shows that a moderate iodine deficiency exists in both patients with endemic goiter and control subjects, which indicates the important role of iodine deficiency in the et iopathogenesis of endemic goiter in Turkey. Zinc deficiency may also contri bute to the pathogenesis of endemic goiter. However, Se and Cu do not seem to have any role in the etiopathogenesis of endemic goiter in Turkey a comm unity-based iodine fortification program throughout the country may be prop osed to take over the problem, which also can prevent the contributing effe cts of other element deficiencies that occur when iodine deficiency is the prevailing factor.