Factors influencing thyroid volume in Chinese children

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:This paper aims to compare children's thyroid volume (Tvol) by age and gender in Zhejiang province in order to explore the factors influencing Tvol in this area.SUBJECTS/METHODS:This survey was a cross-sectional survey of a provincial representative sample of Zhejiang province children aged 6–12 years. The children were asked to provide a urine sample for the determination of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and thyroid ultrasonography was performed for the determination of Tvol.RESULTS:The median (25th, 75th percentile) of UIC in children aged 6–12 years in Zhejiang province was found to be 170.0(111.2, 244.4) μg/l. The median (25th, 75th percentile) of Tvols was found to be 3.1(2.3, 4.2) ml. There were significant differences among the different age groups on BSA (Z=−17.911, P=0.000) and Tvol (Z=−1.996, P=0.046) but not on UIC and body mass index (P>0.05). Tvol was in significant association with BSA (P=0.000) but was not associated with UIC (P>0.05). Age, gender and BSA were significant in multiple linear regression (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:The median UIC of children aged 6–12 years falls in the optimal iodine status as recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. However, urinary iodine nutritional status had little effect on the Tvol in children aged 6–12 years in Zhejiang province. Age, gender and BSA were the influencing factors of Tvol.

Associations between iodine intake, thyroid volume, and goiter rate in school-aged Chinese children from areas with high iodine drinking water concentrations

“…Similar results have also been reported elsewhere (31). The WHO has developed criteria for defining TGR in children based on BSA, age, and sex (16,19), whereas the criteria in China were according to age (5).…”

Systematic determination of thyroid volume by ultrasound examination from infancy to adolescence in Japan: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

“…Among 6 regions in the world, children in Japan, as representatives of the Asian region, had both the largest age-adjusted thyroid volumes and the largest body surface area-adjusted thyroid volumes. After publishing these data, recent studies on thyroid volume confirmed the international reference values although the number of cases are small (approximately 200-5000 cases) in all studies [11][12][13][14][15][16]. In Japan, Fuse et al compared the international reference values for Japanese and thyroid volumes of approximately 1000 schoolchildren [11].…”

Ultrasonographic assessment of thyroid volume in oldest-old individuals

“…The volume of the thyroid is influenced by age, gender, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass, iodine intake, and genetic factors (3)(4)(5). Post-mortem thyroid examination of individuals aged ≥ 50 years (6) and confirmed in centenarians (7) has identified progressive atrophy, fibrosis, increased adipose tissue, and decreased follicles and colloid, contributing to a decrease in the volume of the gland with aging (8).…”