Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Imbalance in Trace Element on Thyroid Gland from Moroccan Children

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The major environmental factor that determines goiter prevalence is iodine status. However, other trace elements like selenium and zinc can influence the thyroid function. Hair samples (n = 68) were collected from goitrous and non-goitrous children aged 8–12 years living in the area of Al Haouz Marrakech-(Morocco). Trace element concentrations (Cr, Fe, Mg, Zn, Se, I) in hair were measured using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Difference in the mean concentration of each trace element between groups was determined by ANOVA test. The mean concentration levels of I, Se, and Zn for goitrous children were lower and were similar to the mean concentrations reported in the literature for subjects with goiter. The regression results gave us a better model that revealed significant positive relations between thyroid volume and Zn contents and significant negative relation with I and Se. The overall findings of the present study revealed that the actual factors of thyroid gland volume increase are I and Se deficiency. This work could shed some light on the effects of trace elements—other than iodine—on the thyroid disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD (1994) Indicators for assessing iodine deficiency disorders and their control through salt iodinization. WHO/NUT.

  2. Delange F (1994) The disorders induced by iodine deficiency. Thyroid 4:107–128

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vitti P, Delange F, Pinchera A, Zimmermann M, Dunn JT (2003) Europe is iodine deficient. Lancet 361:1226

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gorbachev AL, Skalny AV, Koubassov RV (2007) Bioelement effects on thyroid gland in children living in iodine-adequate territory. J Trace Elem Med Bio 21:56–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Aquaron R, Zarrouck K, El Jarari M, Ababou R, Talibi A, Ardissone JP (1993) Endemic goiter in Morocco (Koura-Toundoute areas in the high atlas). J Endocrinol Investig 16:9–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kadiri A, Chraibi A, Gharbi MH, Naji A, Farissi Z, Nassiri N, Akalay O, Chaouki N (1993) Le goître endémique. Enquête-pilote au maroc (the endemic goitre. A pilot investigation in morocco). Rev Fr Endocrinol Clin 34:651–655

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tajdine MT, Lamrani M, Serhane K, Achour A, Benariba F, Daali M (2005) Les goitres multihétéronodulaires plongeants: à propos de 100 cas marocains. Cah Etud Rech Franco 15:247–252

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bousliman Y, EL Jaoudi R, Zahidi A, Oulad Bouyahya IM, Draoui M, Abouqal R, Taoufik J (2011) Consommation du sel iodé et la prévalence du goitre chez les enfants d’âge scolaire dans la province de Larache. Maroc, Med Maghreb

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chaouki N, Ottmani S, Saad A, Hamdaoui ME, Benabdejlil C, Kadiri A, Abadou R, Mahjour J (1996) Etude de la prévalence des troubles dus à la carence iodée chez les enfants âgés de 6 à 12 ans au maroc. Bull Epidémiol 7:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  10. WHO (2001) Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination, a guide for programme managers. Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Genève. Suisse. http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/en/idd_assessment_monitoring_eliminintion.pdf (accessed on 08/02/2015)

  11. FAO (2011) Profil Nutritionnel du Maroc - Division de la nutrition et de la protection des consommateurs. ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/ncp/mar.pdf (accessed on 20/06./2015)

  12. Man CK, Zheng YH (2002) Analysis of trace elements in scalp hair of mentally retarded children. J Radioanal Nucl Ch 253:375–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Momcilovic B, Prejac J, Visnjevic V, Skalnaya MG, Mimica N, Drmic S, Skalny AV (2014) Hair iodine for human iodine status assessment. Thyroid 24:1018–1026

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Raposo JC, Navarro P, Sarmiento A, Arribas E, Irazola M, Alonso RM (2014) Analytical proposal for trace element determination in human hair. Application to the Biscay province population, northern Spain. Microchem J 116:125–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Golasik M, Przybyłowicz A, Woźniak A, Herman M, Gawęcki W, Golusiński W, Walas S, Krejpcio Z, Szyfter K, Florek E, Piekoszewsk W (2015) Essential metals profile of the hair and nails of patients with laryngeal cancer. J Trace Elem Med Bio 31:67–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sahoo SK, Žunić ZS, Kritsananuwat R, Zagrodzki P, Bossew P, Veselinovic N, Mishra S, Yonehara H, Tokonami S (2015) Distribution of uranium, thorium and some stable trace and toxic elements in human hair and nails in Niška Banja Town, a high natural background radiation area of Serbia (Balkan Region, South-East Europe). J Environ Radioactiv 145:66–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Morton J, Carolan VA, Gardiner PHE (2002) Removal of exogenously bound elements from human hair by various washing procedures and determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 455:23–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brown AC, Crounse RC (1980) Hair trace elements and human illness. Praeger Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  19. Passwater RA, Cranton EM (1983) Trace elements, hair analysis and nutrition. CT. Keats Publishing, New Canaan

    Google Scholar 

  20. Peereboom JWC, Hamilton EI (1985) Trace elements, human health and hair analysis. Sci Total Environ 42

  21. Katz SA, Chatt A (1988) The significance of hair analysis: applications in the biomedical and environmental sciences. VCH Publishers, New York, NY, pp. 105–109

    Google Scholar 

  22. Miekeley N, Dias Carneiro MTW, Silveira CL (1998) How reliable are human hair reference intervals for trace elements? Sci Total Environ 218:9–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Díez S, Delgado S, Aguilera I, Astray J, Pérez-Gómez B, Torrent M, Sunyer J, Bayona JM (2009) Prenatal and early childhood exposure to mercury and methylmercury in Spain, a high-fish-consumer country. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 56:615–622

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. El-Fadeli S, Chaik M, Pineau A, Lekouch N, Sedki A (2012) Determination of trace elements in human hair: optimization of washing procedure with a product of traditional pharmacopeia in Morocco “Rhassoul”. Trace Elem Electroly 29:22–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nechay MW, Sunderman Jr FW (1973) Measurements of nickel in hair by atomic absorption spectrometry. Ann Clin Lab Sci 3:30–35

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lekouch N, Sedki A, Bouhouch S, Nejmeddine A, Pineau A, Pihan JC (1999) Trace elements in children’s hair, as related exposure in wastewater spreading field of Marrakesh (Morocco). Sci Total Environ 15:323–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Foo SC, Khoo NY, Heng A, Chua LH, Chia SE, Ong CN, Ngim CH, Jeyaratnam J (1993) Metals in hair as biological indices for exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 65:83–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ersoy B, Gunes HS, Gunay T, Yilmaz O, Kasirga E, Egemen A (2006) Interaction of two public health problems in Turkish schoolchildren: nutritional deficiencies and goiter. Public Health Nutr 9:1001–1006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wolka E, Shiferaw S, Biadgilign S (2014) Epidemiological study of risk factors for goiter among primary schoolchildren in southern Ethiopia. Food and Nutr Bull 35:20–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Manjunath B, Suman G, Hemanth T, Shivaraj NS, Murthy NS (2015) Prevalence and factors associated with goitre among 6–12-year-old children in a rural area of Karnataka in south India. Biol Trace Elem Res p 1-5

  31. Grabeklis AR, Lakarova EV, Eisazadeh S, Skalny AV (2011) Sex dependent peculiarities of some important chemical element ratios in hair of schoolchildren. Trace Elem Electroly 28:88–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. WHO (2006) “BMI Classification". Global Database on Body Mass Index. World Health Organization. http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html (accessed on 13/07/2015)

  33. Sanjari M, Gholamhoseinian A, Nakhaee A (2014) The association between cobalt deficiency and endemic goiter in school-aged children. Endocrinol Metab 29:307–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zakrgynska-Fontaine V, Doré JC, Ojasoo T, Poirier-Duchiêne F, Viel C (1998) Study of the age and sex dependence of trace elements in hair by correspondence analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 61:151–168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Zaida F, Chadrame S, Sedki A, Lekouch N, Bureau F, Arhan P, Bouglé D (2007) Lead and aluminium levels in infants’ hair, diet, and the local environment in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. Sci Total Environ 377:152–158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Rebacz E, Baranowska-Bosiacka I, Chlubek D (2010) The content of selected chemical elements in the hair of young men of the Bantu language group from Tanzania versus environmental and social conditioning. Biol Trace Elem Res 137:262–279

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Mikulewicz M, Chojnacka K, Gedrange T, Górecki H (2013) Reference values of elements in human hair: a systematic review. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 36:1077–1086

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Varrica D, Tamburo E, Dongarrà G, Sposito F (2014) Trace elements in scalp hair of children chronically exposed to volcanic activity (Mt. Etna, Italy). Sci Total Environ 470-471:117–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Çelik T, Savaş N, Kurtoğlu S, Sangün Ö, Aydın Z, Mustafa D, Öztürk OH, Mısırlıoğlu S, Öktem M (2014) Iodine, copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum levels in children aged between 6 and 12 years in the rural area with iodine deficiency and in the city center without iodine deficiency in Hatay. Türk Ped Arş 49:111–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Zimmermann MB, Boelaert K (2015) Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. Lancet Diabetes & Endocrin 3:286–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sanjari M, Gholamhoseinian A, Nakhaee A (2012) Serum zinc levels and goiter in Iranian school children. J Trace Elem Med Bio 26:42–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Hetzel HS, Maberly GF (1986) Iodine. In: Mertz W (ed) Trace elements in human and animal nutrition. Academic Press, London, pp. 139–197

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  43. Arthur JR, Beckett GT (1994) New metabolic roles for selenium. Proc Nutr Soc 53:615–624

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mumtaz A, Ullah MI, Atif M, Sami W (2014) Determination of serum zinc and magnesium levels in patients with hypothyroidism. Trace Elem Electroly 31:43–47

  45. Sharma R, Bharti S, Hari Kumar KVS (2014) Diet and thyroid—myths and facts. J Med Nutr Nutraceut 3: 60–65.

  46. Chojnacka K, Gorecka H, Chojnacki A, Gorecki H (2005) Inter-element interactions in human hair. Environ Toxicol Phar 20:368–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Ecotoxicology and Sanitation, Bd Moulay Abdellah BP, 2390-40001, Marrakech, Morocco

    Sana El-Fadeli & Azeddine Sedki

  2. Laboratory of Human Ecology, Bd Moulay Abdellah BP, 2390-40001, Marrakech, Morocco

    Sabir Bouhouch & Mohamed Cherkaoui

  3. P.G.Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Sovetskaya str. 14, Yaroslavl, 150000, Russia

    Anatoly V. Skalny

  4. Trace Element – Insitute for UNESCO, 7 rue Guillaume Paradin, Lyon, France

    Anatoly V. Skalny

  5. Regional Laboratory of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Environmental Health, Marrakech, Morocco

    Yassir Barkouch

  6. Laboratory of Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035 Cedex 1, Nantes, France

    Alain Pineau

Authors
  1. Sana El-Fadeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sabir Bouhouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anatoly V. Skalny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yassir Barkouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alain Pineau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mohamed Cherkaoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Azeddine Sedki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sana El-Fadeli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El-Fadeli, S., Bouhouch, S., Skalny, A.V. et al. Effects of Imbalance in Trace Element on Thyroid Gland from Moroccan Children. Biol Trace Elem Res 170, 288–293 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0485-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0485-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation