Relationships between Iodine and Some Trace Elements in Normal Thyroid of Females Investigated by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescent Analysis

Objective: Thyroid diseases rank second among endocrine disorders, and prevalence of the diseases is higher in the elderly as compared to the younger population. Women are affected by thyroid diseases almost ten times more often than men. An excess or deficiency of trace element contents in thyroid play important role in goitro- and carcinogenesis of gland. Study Design: The correlations with age of the seven trace element (TE) contents (Br, Cu, Fe, I, Rb, Sr, and Zn), I/Br, I/Cu, I/ Fe, I/Rb, I/Sr, and I/Zn ratios, and inter relationships between TE contents and I/TE content ratios in normal thyroid of 33 females (age range 3.5-87 years) was investigated by radionuclide-induced energy dispersive X-ray fluorescent analysis. Results: Our data reveal that the Rb and Zn content increase, while I/Cu and I/Zn content ratios decrease in the normal thyroid of female during a lifespan. Therefore, a goitrogenic and tumorogenic effect of disturbance in intrathyroidal I, Cu, and Fe relationships with increasing age may be assumed. Furthermore, it was found that the levels of Cu, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn in the thyroid gland are interconnected and depend on the content of I in it. Conclusions: Because I plays a decisive role in the function of the thyroid gland, the data obtained allow us to conclude that, along with I, such TEs as Cu, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn, if not directly, then indirectly, are involved in the process of female thyroid hormone synthesis.