Study of Serum TSH in Healthy Individuals on Non-Vegetarian and Lacto-Vegetarian Diet

Nutrition plays a critical role in thyroid hormone synthesis. The production of thyroid hormones depends upon adequate amount of tyrosine, a non essential amino acid synthesized in the body from the essential amino acid phenylalanine, and dietary iodine. Moreover selenium, zinc and iron also help in thyroid hormone synthesis and in their action on target cells. There is perception in general that vegetarian diet is healthy and balanced diet but it is also fact that the vegetarian diet is deficient of many major nutrients along with iodine. Iodine content in food of plant origin (vegetarian diet) is lower in comparison with that of animal origin due to a low iodine concentration in soil. In areas of relative iodine deficiency, there is an increased prevalence of goiter and hypothyroidism in India. The present study was conducted in Karol Bagh area of Delhi, on non-vegetarian and lacto-vegetarian diet healthy individuals, their serum TSH range was assessed, as TSH is the best indicator of thyroid functions. The study showed that the TSH range is insignificantly lower in lacto-vegetarian people, which is not in accordance with previous studies. This study reflects that lacto-vegetarian diet is not associated with hypothyroidism