Zinc metabolism in thyroid disease

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Thyroid dysfunction, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can impact various metabolic processes.
• Zinc is an essential trace element involved in numerous biological functions, including immune response and thyroid hormone metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate zinc metabolism in adults diagnosed with thyroid disease.
• To compare zinc levels and excretion patterns between patients with different thyroid states and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Assessed plasma and erythrocyte zinc concentrations.
• Measured urinary zinc excretion.
• Compared these parameters across hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, euthyroid (post-thyroid disease), and control groups.

Main Results:

• Lower plasma zinc concentrations were found in hypothyroid and euthyroid (previously thyroid disease) patients compared to controls.
• Significantly decreased erythrocyte zinc levels were observed in all patients with thyroid disease.
• Hyperthyroid patients exhibited increased urinary zinc excretion compared to other groups, potentially linked to increased tissue catabolism.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal zinc metabolism is a common finding in individuals with thyroid disease.
• Thyroid status significantly influences zinc homeostasis, affecting both tissue and plasma zinc levels and urinary excretion patterns.