Does drinking water with raised fluoride content affect the thyroid hormone status: A study from Thar Parker Pakistan

Authors

  • Iftekhar Ahmed Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Faiza Ghuman Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Salma Salman Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Ibraj Fatima 4th Year MBBS Student, Dow International Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.481

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of consuming water with high fluoride content on thyroid hormone status.

Method: The comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Sammu Rind village of district Tharparkar, Pakistan, where ground water was the only source of drinking and had fluoride content >6-8mg/dL, and another set of people from Gadap Town, Karachi, where ground water had fluoride level of 0.3mg/L. Thyroid profile, including serum thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine, were checked for both the exposed and the unexposed groups, and data was cross-tabulated with thyroid profile to check statistical significance. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Result: Of the 242 subjects, 121(50%) each were in the exposed and the unexposed group. Among the exposed, 15(12.4%) people had hypothyroidism, 104(86%) had euthyroid and 2(1.6%) had hyperthyroid. Corresponding values in the unexposed group were 10(8%), 105(87%) and 6(5%). The difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).

Key Words: Desert, Thyroid hormones, Fluorosis, Iodine, Hypothyroid, Hyperthyroidism.

Published

2022-04-01

How to Cite

Iftekhar Ahmed, Faiza Ghuman, Salma Salman, & Ibraj Fatima. (2022). Does drinking water with raised fluoride content affect the thyroid hormone status: A study from Thar Parker Pakistan. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(2), 228–230. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.481

Issue

Section

RESEARCH ARTICLE