| Autor: |
Noahsen P; Department of Clinical Medicine, Arctic Health Research Centre, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.; Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; National Board of Health, Nuuk, Greenland., Rex KF; Department of Clinical Medicine, Arctic Health Research Centre, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.; Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Department of Internal Medicine, Queen Ingrid's Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland., Bülow Pedersen I; Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark., Mulvad G; Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Primary Health Care Clinic, Nuuk, Greenland., Florian-Sørensen HC; Tasiilaq Health Care Center, Tasiilaq, Greenland., Pedersen ML; Steno Diabetes Center, Nuuk, Greenland., Andersen S; Department of Clinical Medicine, Arctic Health Research Centre, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.; Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Department of Internal Medicine, Queen Ingrid's Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland.; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. |
| Abstrakt: |
Objective: Arctic living is influenced by cold winters, short summers, and excessive iodine intake from the traditional Inuit diet providing for habitation of the Arctic for centuries. This is changing and we surveyed thyroid function in populations living in Greenland. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected in the capital city in West Greenland and in rural East Greenland. Information on lifestyle, dietary habits, and medical history was obtained using questionnaires. Thyrotropin, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, thyroglobulin, and thyroglobulin antibody were measured in serum, iodine, and creatinine in spot urine samples. Results: One percent of the Greenlandic population was invited and 535 participated with an overall participation rate of 95%. Iodine excretion was 225 μg/24 hours in East Greenland and 169 μg/24 hours among West Greenland Inuit. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 10.7% of West Greenlandic Inuit (men/women: 4.3%/16.3%) and 7.8% of East Greenlandic Inuit (3.8%/12.8%). Hypothyroidism was found in 2.7% in West Greenland (0.0%/5.0%) and 5.6% (5.6%/5.6%) in East Greenland. Conclusion: Hyperthyroidism was frequent among Inuit and the occurrence of hypothyroidism was low. The pattern of hyper- and hypothyroidism among Greenlandic Inuit with adequate iodine intake was comparable with those seen in populations with iodine deficiency. Inuit may thus have adapted to excessive iodine intake over centuries, causing a need for a higher iodine intake to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. |
