relationship between iron status and thyroid hormone concentration among females [15 - 49] years old attending primary health care centers [PHCC] in Baghdad governorate

ABSTRACT

Several minerals and trace elements are essential for normal thyroid hormone metabolism, e.g., iodine, iron, and zinc. Coexisting deficiencies of these elements can impair thyroid function. The present study is an attempt to estimate the impact of iron deficiency anemia among women of child birth on thyroid function. The study was conducted during the period from the April to July 2009; the sample was comprised of 300 women who were between 15 to 49 years old attending the antenatal care clinics in Baghdad governorate. Cross - sectional study was carried out in six primary health care centers [PHCC], selected conveniently. The data were collected through direct interview, for each women Serum samples were collected and assayed for serum ferritin, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], thyroxin [T4], triiodothyronine [T3] and hemoglobin [Hb], The study showed that 30% of women were anemic; the effect of anemia on thyroid function was not clear as 98% of the studied women have normal thyroxin and only 1% has low thyroxin level while 1% showed high concentration of thyroxin level. "This research did not find any correlation between anemia markers and thyroxin concentrations. These data suggest that anemia does not influence thyroid function in our study population"