SEARCHCROSS-SECTIONALendocrinology, public health

cross-sectional·endocrinology, public health, nutrition, epidemiology, micronutrients·PMC10611878

Thyroid function and urinary concentrations of iodine, selenium, and arsenic in vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and pescatarians

European Journal of Nutrition · 8 authors, 6 centres

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional study measured thyroid function and urinary micronutrients in Norwegian adults following different plant-based diets. The main result was that vegans had significantly higher thyroglobulin levels compared to pescatarians, indicating increased thyroid activity due to mild iodine deficiency.

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The study was a cross-sectional investigation of 205 Norwegian adults on vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, or pescatarian diets to assess thyroid function and urinary concentrations of iodine, selenium, and arsenic. Methods included venous blood samples for thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin (Tg), and single spot urine samples for micronutrients. Results showed a low prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (3%) and normal fT3 and fT4 across all groups. Vegans had significantly higher Tg concentrations compared to pescatarians, indicating a physiological response to mild iodine deficiency. All dietary groups had median urinary iodine concentrations indicating mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency. Median urinary selenium and arsenic concentrations were low, with no significant differences between groups. The study suggests a low iodine intake may increase long-term thyroid disorder risk.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

endocrinology

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10611878

Thyroid function and urinary concentrations of iodine, selenium, and arsenic in vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and pescatarians

European Journal of Nutrition

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ABSTRACT

Purpose Populations following a plant-based diet may be at particular risk of thyroid dysfunction due to low iodine and selenium intakes. The main purpose was to assess thyroid function and urinary concentration of iodine, selenium, and arsenic, in subjects following a vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, or pescatarian diet. Methods In Norway, a country without mandatory dietary iodine fortification, 205 adults, following vegan ( n = 115), lacto-ovo vegetarian ( n = 55) and pescatarian diet ( n = 35) were included. Thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and serum anti-TPO (S-anti-TPO) were measured in a venous blood sample and concentrations of iodine (UIC), creatinine (UCC), selenium, and arsenic were measured from single spot urine samples. Results Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.0 mU/L) was observed in 3% of subjects. The overall median (p25, p75) Tg was 17 (9, 30) µg/L and vegans had higher Tg compared to pescatarians. Vegans not consuming iodine-containing supplements ( n = 43) had higher Tg, than supplement users ( n = 72), 27 (11, 44) vs. 16 (8, 25) µg/L and higher fT4, 16 (15, 17) vs. 15 (14, 17) pmol/L, respectively. The overall median UIC was 57 (28, 130) µg/L, all dietary groups had median UIC below WHO thresholds. Median urinary selenium and arsenic concentration was 13 (6, 22) and 3 (2, 8) µg/L, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was low and fT4 and fT3 were within the normal range for all dietary groups. Vegans had significantly increased Tg compared to pescatarians. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-023-03218-5.

CITATION EXPORT

Sigrun Henjum, Synne Groufh-Jacobsen, Inger Aakre et al.. Thyroid function and urinary concentrations of iodine, selenium, and arsenic in vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and pescatarians. European Journal of Nutrition. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03218-5

AUTHORS

8 · 6 CENTRES

Sigrun Henjum, Synne Groufh-Jacobsen, Inger Aakre, Elin Lovise Folven Gjengedal, Mina Marthinsen Langfjord, Espen Heen, Veronika Sele, Maria Andersson

1https://ror.org/04q12yn84grid.412414.60000 0000 9151 4445Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Kunnskapsveien 55, 2007 Kjeller, 0130 Oslo, Norway
2https://ror.org/03x297z98grid.23048.3d0000 0004 0417 6230Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Agder, Universitetsveien 25, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway
3https://ror.org/05vg74d16grid.10917.3e0000 0004 0427 3161Department of Marine Toxicology, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
4https://ror.org/04a1mvv97grid.19477.3c0000 0004 0607 975XFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, Norway
5https://ror.org/01xtthb56grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
6https://ror.org/035vb3h42grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Nutrition Research Unit, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland