Hypovitaminosis D in Iraqi Hashimoto Thyroiditis Patients

Abstract

The association of abnormal levels of vitamin D with autoimmune thyroid disease including Hashimoto's thyroiditis has been somewhat controversial. The study aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in Iraqi patients. This study is a cross-sectional study involving patients who visited the outpatient clinic in Baghdad teaching hospital for thyroid evaluation and follow-up during the period from December 2018 until April 2019. Out of those patients, 36 patients (24 females and 12 males) were diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Diagnosis of the patients was based on clinical symptoms and the results of thyroid function, and anti-thyroid antibody tests. In addition, 20 healthy individuals (age and gender matched) were also recruited in the study as a control group. Age distribution of patients showed that the majority of patients (52.8 %) were between the ages of 20 and 40 years. On the other hand, 2.8%, 25% and 19.4% were in the age groups ˂20, 40-60 and ˃60 years respectively. The data of the present study showed that Hashimoto's thyroiditis was more prevalent in females than males (67% females vs 33% males). Comparison between patient and control group by measuring serum vitamin D revealed a highly significant decrease in patients (10.18 ± 6.78 ng/ml) when compared to the control (68 ± 8ng/ml) (P˂0.001). No significant difference in the level of vitamin D was found between male and female patients (7.2 ± 3.1 and 10.35 ± 6.2 ng/ml respectively). In conclusion, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with a significant decrease in vitamin D status.