| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 2 | Page : 50-56 |
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Thyroid dysfunction associated with excess fluoride intakes: Scope for primary prevention
Sandeep Sachdeva1, Juned Ahmed2, Balbir Singh2
1 Department of Community Medicine, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
2 Department of General Medicine, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Correspondence Address:
Sandeep Sachdeva
Epidemiologist cum Lecturer, 3/115 A, Durgabadi, Marris Road, Aligarh 202 002, Uttar Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0973-0354.156726
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Background: Preventable thyroid dysfunction has remained a neglected entity worldwide. Excess fluoride consumption over years leads to irreversible thyroid dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Subjects (N = 275) with thyroid dysfunction were recruited from medicine and endocrinology OPDs/wards and were thoroughly examined. The source and type of water consumed by these subjects was asked and sampled for fluoride analysis. Results: A majority (75%) of the subjects were females. Hypothyroidism including subclinical hypothyroidism was the major underlying dysfunction. Majority of the afflicted (53%) consumed ground water as their predominant drinking water source. Fluoride content was well above acceptable limits of potability (1mg/L) in ground water and this correlated positively with elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and negatively with free T3 levels in blood. The correlation was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Excess of fluoride in drinking water was the plausible cause of hypothyroidism in study individuals. Fluoridation of water for prevention of dental caries is a policy that can be amended for the sake of this larger picture. Thyroid diseases deserve recognition as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of public health importance. |
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