Background

Selenium and iodine are trace elements well known to have important roles in the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones. However, the effects of other trace elements on thyroid hormones are still inconclusive. We investigated the association between several trace elements and thyroid hormones.

Methods

The data of 448 subjects who were measured for both, trace elements and TSH/free T4, at the Heath Checkup Center were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of thyroiditis (from thyroid echogenicity) and thyroid nodules were reviewed in the subjects who underwent thyroid ultrasonography.

Results

Blood concentrations of manganese, copper, selenium, and molybdenum were associated with TSH or free T4. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption, blood copper levels were positively associated with free T4 in both sexes and selenium levels were positively associated with free T4 in women. There was no association between trace elements and thyroiditis. Blood copper concentration had a weak non-linear association with the presence of thyroid nodules.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that blood concentrations of copper and selenium were significantly associated with free T4 in healthy Korean subjects with sufficient iodine intake suggesting their role in maintaining normal thyroid function.

中文翻译：

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探索铜和硒在健康韩国人维持甲状腺正常功能中的作用。

背景

硒和碘是众所周知的微量元素，在甲状腺激素的合成和代谢中具有重要作用。但是，其他微量元素对甲状腺激素的影响尚无定论。我们调查了几种微量元素与甲状腺激素之间的关联。

方法

回顾性审查了在健康检查中心测量的448名受试者的元素，微量元素和TSH /游离T4的数据。回顾了接受甲状腺超声检查的受试者的甲状腺炎（来自甲状腺的回声性）和甲状腺结节的存在。

结果

锰，铜，硒和钼的血药浓度与TSH或游离T4有关。在对年龄，性别，BMI，吸烟和饮酒进行调整之后，男女的血铜水平与游离T4呈正相关，而硒水平与女性游离T4呈正相关。微量元素与甲状腺炎之间没有关联。血铜浓度与甲状腺结节的存在存在弱的非线性关联。

结论

这项研究表明，在健康的，摄入碘量充足的韩国受试者中，铜和硒的血液浓度与游离T4显着相关，表明它们在维持正常甲状腺功能中的作用。