Thyroid hormone concentrations in Nepal: a study of potential Gurkha army recruits. The effect of changes in diet

A group of non goitrous, potential Gurkha army recruits were tested in Nepal for serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations. Twenty-five percent of the men were recruited into the army and urine samples taken for analysis of iodine and creatinine. Twenty per cent of the recruits underwent thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests. After ten months basic training on a diet considered to be iodine sufficient, the tests were repeated on the same men. The results were also compared to army recruits in the UK. All the potential Gurkha recruits had higher serum levels of thyroid hormones than the UK recruits. Some regional differences were found with those men from the Western recruiting depot having lower fT4 and higher TSH concentrations. Urinary iodine and creatinine concentrations showed evidence of slight relative malnutrition and iodine deficiency which was more pronounced in the Western depot. TRH stimulation tests showed no evidence of thyroid dysfunction but highlighted the differences between the Eastern and Western groups. After ten months on an iodine sufficient diet the serum thyroid hormone concentrations became closer to those of the UK recruits, showing any differences to be reversible. The results from the two Gurkha groups became similar which was reflected in the urine analysis results.