Study of serum thyroid stimulating hormone level among individuals in an iodine deficient region of upper Assam� a hospital based study

Dr. Saurabh Borkotoki; Dr.Uttara borkotoki; Dr. Reetwik Kumar Dutta; Mr. Rituraj Baruah

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2016

Study of serum thyroid stimulating hormone level among individuals in an iodine deficient region of upper Assam� a hospital based study

Dr. Saurabh Borkotoki, Dr. Uttara Borkotoki, Dr. Reetwik Kumar Dutta, Mr. Rituraj Baruah

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for synthesis of thyroid hormones.Jorhat,Golaghat and Sivasagar districts of upper Assam belong to the Sub Himalayan iodine deficient belt with large scale floods every year during the rainy seasons.Inhabitants of this region are at risk of developing altered thyroid status due to iodine deficiency in their food,if not supplemented adequately.Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the anterior pituitary is regarded as one of the best indicators of thyroid hormone activity.With this background,a cross sectional observational study has been undertaken to evaluate the thyroid status of the population of Jorhat,Golaghat and Sibsagar districts by examining their TSH levels.Subjects selected for the study are apparently euthyroid individuals visiting Jorhat Medical College Hospital from March 2014 to September 2015. RESULTS AND OBSERVATION: A total of 1314 cases of both sexes belonging to different age groups were studied. The mean TSH value obtained is 2.27µIU/L ±1.69µIU/L. For females it is 2.33µIU/L±1.73µIU/L and for the males is 2.19µIU/L ±1.64µIU/L. 6.925% of the cases studied have values >5µIU/L. The results are comparable with studies from non–iodine deficient areas.