Evaluation of Serum Trace Elements and Vitamin Levels in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Single Centre Experience from Turkey

Aim: To determine levels of serum trace elements and vitamins, and to find out possible correlations between these elements and vitamins with thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibody levels in patients having Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Methods: The study included 51 premenauposal women with untreated HT, aged 18 to 56 years without any known chronic diseases or chronic medicine usage, and 27 healthy premenauposal women aged 19 to 42 years old. Trace elements (selenium, zinc, copper, iron levels) and vitamins [A, E, B12, 25-OH-D, 1,25(OH)2D and folic acid levels] were evaluated in patient and control groups. Results: Consequently, serum trace elements and vitamin B12 levels did not significantly differ in patients with HT and control group. Thyroid functioning tests and autoantibody levels did not show any correlation with the levels of trace elements, vitamin A, vitamin E and 25-OH vitamin D. A correlation was detected between vitamin B12 and Anti thyroid peroxidase levels. Conclusion: The negative correlation between vitamin B12 and Anti thyroid peroxidase levels may demonstrate the necessity to screen the patients with HT for atrophic gastritis. We believe that more comprehensive studies with larger sample sizes are needed in which patients are randomized according to their nutritional status.