Determination of Some Trace Elements in Serum of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism Patients

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to determine the concentration of the mineral nutrient elements in human serum, and to find a relationship between the concentration of metal ions and hormonal disorder in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. To achieve these objectives the serum samples were collected from patients of different localities in Sudan. Thyroid hormones were determined using radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and flame photometry were employed for determination of metal ions concentrations. These methods were found to be quite reliable as provided by the analysis of standard reference material which is a freeze-dried animal blood (A-13). Potassium, calcium, and magnesium showed higher concentration than copper, iron and Zinc. Potassium has the highest concentration, while calcium has shown the second highest concentration, followed by magnesium, whereas copper, iron and zinc have shown relatively similar concentrations. In general, calcium and magnesium, for hypothyroidism group have shown higher concentrations, followed by hyperthyroid and then normal people. Zinc concentration is slightly low in hypothyroidism group, on the other hand, concentration of calcium was found to decrease with age. For normal people, thyroid hormone (Thyroxine) T4 has showed the higher concentration than (Triiodothyronine) T3 In patients with hyperthyroidism, T4 and T3 have shown higher concentrations than those of normal ones, whereas (Thyroid stimulating hormone) TSH has shown lower concentration. In patients with hypothyroidism, TSH has shown higher concentrations than those of normal people, while T4 and T3 have shown lower concentrations than those of normal ones