Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of calcium and lead interaction, in addition to their impact on thyroid functions in hyper and hypothyroid patients

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is compelling evidence in support of interaction between calcium (Ca) and lead (Pb) in thyroid disorders. The aim of present study was to compare the level of Ca and Pb with thyroid hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxin (FT4) in serum samples of hyperthyroid (HPRT) and hypothyroid (HPOT) patients of both genders. For comparative purpose, age-matched (25–50 years) subjects having no thyroid disorders were selected as referents/controls. The serum samples were acid-digested prior to analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data indicates that the mean values of Ca in serum samples of HPRT patients were significantly higher than those of referent subjects (p < 0.01), while reverse pattern was observed in the case of HPOT patients. The level of Pb was higher in the serum samples of both types of thyroid patients, but difference was significant in case of HPOT patients as compare to referent subjects (p < 0.01). A negative correlation was observed between serum Ca levels and TSH of HPRT patients (−r = 0.37–0.39, p < 0.01), while FT3 and FT4 have positive correlation (r = 0.49–0.52 and r = 0.46–0.47), p values <0.01. The Pb in serum had positive correlation with TSH (r = 0.48–0.51, p < 0.005), while negative correlation was observed for FT3 and FT4 (−r = 0.55–0.56, 0.5–0.54, p < 0.05) in HPRT patients. On the other hand, a reverse pattern was observed, for correlation of Ca and Pb with thyroid functions in HPOT patients.

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

  • Abdelouahab N, Mergler D, Takser L, Vanier C, St-Jean M, Baldwin M et al (2008) Gender differences in the effects of organochlorines, mercury, and lead on thyroid hormone levels in lakeside communities of Quebec (Canada). Environ Res 107(3):380–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abu EO, Bord S, Horner A et al (1997) The expression of thyroid hormone receptors in human bone. Bone 21:137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barger-Lux MJ, Heaney RP, Recker RR (1989) Time course of calcium absorption in humans: evidence for a colonic component. Calcif Tissue Int 44:308–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellinger DC (2004) Lead. Pediatrics 113(4 suppl):1016–1022

    Google Scholar 

  • Blazewicz A, Dolliver W, Sivsammye S, Deol A, Randhawa R, Orlicz-Szczesna G, Blazewicz R (2010) Determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in thyroid glands of patients with diagnosed nodular goitre using ion chromatography. J Chromatogr B 878:34–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouillon R, De Moor P (1974) Parathyroid Function in Patients with Hyper- or Hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 38(6):999–1004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley SE (1978) Renal functions – body water and electrolytes. In: Weiner SC, Ingbar SH (eds) the thyroid: A fundamental and clinical text. Harper Row, New York, pp 884–891

    Google Scholar 

  • Britto JM, Fenton AJ, Holloway WR, Nicholson GC (1994) Osteoblasts mediate thyroid hormone stimulation of osteoclastic bone resorption. Endocrinol 134:169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brzoska MM, Moniuszko-Jakoniuk J, Jurczuk M, Chraniuk M (1997) The influence of cadmium on bone tissue in rats. Pol J Environ Stud 6:29–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Burman KD, Monchik JM, Earl JM, Wartofsky L (1976) Ionized and total serum calcium and parathyroid hormone in hyperthyroidism. Ann Intern Med 84:668–671

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen A, Kim SS, Chung E, Dietrich KN (2013) Thyroid Hormones in Relation to Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium Exposure in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2008. Environ Health Perspect 121(2):181–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christ-Crain M, Meier C, Guglielmetti M, Huber PR, Riesen W, Staub JJ, Muller B (2003) Elevated C-reactive protein and homocysteine values: cardiovascular risk factors in hypothyroidism? A cross-sectional and a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Atherosclerosis 166(2):379–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cullen MR, Robins JM, Eskenazi B (1983) Adult inorganic lead intoxication: presentation of 31 new cases and a review of recent advances in the literature. Medicine 62:221–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cullen MR, Kayne RD, Robins JM (1984) Endocrine andreproductive dysfunction in men associated with occupational inorganic lead intoxication. Arch Environ Health 39:431–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Czarny AW, Owecki M, Zgorzalewicz-Stachowiak M, Wolinski K, Szczepanek-Parulska E, Budny B, Florek E, Waligorska-Stachura J, Miechowicz I, Baczyk M, Sawicka N, Dhir S, Ruchala M (2014) The Role of Serum C-Reactive Protein Measured by High-Sensitive Method in Thyroid Disease. Arch Immunol Ther Exp 62:501–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daly JG, Greenwood RM, Himsworth RL (1983) Serum calcium concentration in hyperthyroidism at diagnosis and after treatment. Clin Endocrinol 19:397–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dundar B, Oktem F, Arslan MK, Delibas N, Baykal B, Arslan C, Gultepe M, Ilhan IE (2006) The effect of long-term low-dose lead exposure on thyroid function in adolescents. Environ Res 101:140–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erfurth EM, Gerhardsson L, Nilsson A, Rylander L, Schutz A, Skerfving S, Borjesson J (2001) Effects of lead on the endocrine system in lead smelter workers. Arch Environ Health 56:449–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fels LM, Wunsch M, Baranowski J, Norska-Borowka I, Price RG, Taylor SA et al (1998) Adverse effects of chronic low level lead exposure on kidney function—a risk group study in children. Nephrol Dial Transplant 13:2248–2256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ford HC, Crooke MJ, Murphy CE (1989) Disturbances of calcium and magnesium metabolism occur in most hyperthyroid patients. Clin Biochem 22:373–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T (2000) Calcium paradox: consequences of calcium deficiency manifested by wide variety of diseases. J Bone Miner Metab 18:234–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fullmer CS (1992) Intestinal interactions of lead and calcium. Neurotoxicol 13:799–808

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabay C, Kushner I (1999) Mechanisms of disease: Acute phase proteins and other systemic responses to inflammation. N Engl J Med 340:448–454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ganapathy S, Volpe SL (1999) Zinc, exercise, and thyroid hormone function. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 39:369–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gentile F, Lauro R, Salvatore G (1995) Biosynthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones. In: Groot LJ (ed) Endocrinology. W. B. Saunders Press pp, Philadelphia, pp 517–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghayur S, Siddiqui S, Alam MM, Shaukat A, Khan A (2004) Spectrum of iodine deficiency in school children of Rawalpindi. Pak Armed Forces Med J 51:27–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Giray B, Arnaud J, Sayek I, Favier A, Hıncal F (2010) Trace elements status in multinodular goiter. J Trace Elem Med Biol 24:106–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffth HW (1995) Complete Guide to Vitamins Minerals and Supplements. Fisher Books Company Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurer-Orhan H, Sabır HU, Ozgunes H (2004) Correlation between clinical indicators of lead poisoning and oxidative stress parameters in controls and lead-exposed workers. Toxicology 195:147–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson A, Hedner P, Schutz A, Skerfving S (1989) Occupational lead exposure and pituitary function. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 61:277–281

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kandhro GA, Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Naveed Kazi N, Arain MB, Sarfraz RA et al (2008) Evaluation of iron in serum and urine and their relation with thyroid function in female goitrous patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 125:203–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kandhro GA, Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Kazi N, Sirrajuddin AMB, Jamali MK, Sarfraz RA, Shah AQ, Ansari R (2009) Effect of zinc supplementation on the zinc level in serum and urine and their relation to thyroid hormone profile in male and female goitrous patients. Clin Nutr 28(2):162–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kandhro GA, Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Kazi N, Baig JA, Arain MB, Shah AQ, Syed N, Kumar S, Kolachi NF, Khan S (2010) Interaction of Copper with Iron, Iodine, and Thyroid Hormone Status in Goitrous Patients. Biol Trace Element Res 134:265–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazi TG, Shah F, Afridi HI, Mughal MA, Naeemullah ASS, Arain MB (2013) Evaluation of lead levels in biological samples of mentally retarded children in different stages using advanced extraction method. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 36:858–864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly GS (2000) Peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones: a review. Altern Med Rev 5:306–333

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kir Z (1995) The effects of thyroid gland on calcium and bone mineral metabolism. Turk J Med Sci 15:148–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Langdahl BL, Loft AG, Eriksen EF et al (1996) Bone mass, bone turnover, calcium homeostasis, and body composition in surgically and radioiodine-treated former hyperthyroid patients. Thyroid 6:169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lasisz B, Zdrojewicz Z, Marcinkowski Z (1992) Effect of lead on thyroid function. Wiad Lek 45:116–119

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lebwhol DJ, Lee HN, DiScale VA (1976) Calcium homeostasis during hypertonic volume expansion in the hypothyroid rat. Am J Physiol 230:456–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez CM, Pineiro AE, Nunez N, Avagnina AM, Villaamil EC, Roses OE (2000) Thyroid hormone changes in males exposed to lead in the Buenos Aires area (Argentina). Pharmacol Res 42:599–602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe CE, Bird ED, Thomas WE Jr (1962) Hypercalcemia in myedemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 22:261–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mallette LE (1989) Regulation of blood calcium in humans. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am 18:601–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masters R (1998) J. Rose (Ed.), Environmental Toxicology, Gordon and Breach, London

  • Meeker JD, Rossano MG, Protas B, Diamond MP, Puscheck E, Daly D et al (2009) Multiple metals predict prolactin and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in men. Environ Res 109(7):869–873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mosekilde L, Eriksen EF, Charles P (1990) Effects of thyroid hormones on bone and mineral metabolism. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 19:35–63

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mundy GR (1990) Calcium homeostasis: hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia. Martin Dunitz, London, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Mundy GR, Shapiro JL, Bandelin JG et al (1976) Direct stimulation of bone resorption by thyroid hormones. J Clin Invest 58:529

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nazifi S, Mansourian M, Nikahval B, Razavi SM (2009) The relationship between serum level of thyroid hormones, trace elements and antioxidant enzymes in dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Trop Anim Health Pro 41:129–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce EN, Bogazzi F, Martino E, Brogioni S, Pardini E, Pellegrini G, Parkes AB, Lazarus JH, Pinchera A, Braverman LE (2003) The Prevalence of Elevated Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Inflammatory and Non inflammatory Thyroid Disease. Thyroid 13(7):643–648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzoli R, Poser J, Bürgi U (1986) Nuclear thyroid hormone receptors in cultured bone cells. Metabolism 35:71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rousset BA, Dunn JT (2004) Thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. In: The thyroid and its disease. Thyroid Disease Manager,/http://www.Thyroidma nager.org/Chapter2/chapter2.pdfS. Revised 13April 2004

  • Sato K, Han DC, Fujii Y et al (1987) Thyroid hormone stimulates alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured rat osteoblastic cells (ROS 17/2.8) through 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine nuclear receptors. Endocrinol 120:1873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher C, Brodkin CA, Alexander B, Cullen M, Rainey PM, van Netten C et al (1998) Thyroid function in lead smelter workers: absence of sub acute or cumulative effects with moderate lead burdens. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 71(7):453–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah F, Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Kazi N, Baig JA, Shah AQ, Wadhwa SK, Khan S, Kolachi NF (2011) Evaluation of status of trace and toxic metals in biological samples (Scalp hair, blood and urine) of normal and anemic children of two age groups. Biol Trace Elem Res 141(1):131–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah F, Kazi TG, Naeemullah AHI (2013) Determination of Lead in Biological Samples of Children with Different Physiological Consequences Using Cloud Point Extraction Method. Biol Trace Elem Res 153:134–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shantha GPS, Kumar AA, Jeyachandran V, Rajamanickam D, Rajkumar K, Salim S, Subramanian KK, Natesan S (2009) Association between primary hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome and the role of C reactive protein: a cross–sectional study from South India. Thyroid Res 2:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shibutani Y, Yokota T, Ijima S, Fujioka A, Katsuno S, Sakamoto K (1989) Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations in thyroid disease: relation to thyroid function and the duration of illness. Jpn J Med 28:496–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek G, Andican G, Unal E, Hatemi I, Yigit I, Candan G (1997) Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc Status in Experimental Hyperthyroidism. Humana Press Inc 57:131–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh B, Chandran V, Bandhu HK, Mittal BR, Bhattacharya A, Jindal SK, Varma S (2000) Impact of lead exposure on pituitary thyroid axis in humans. Bio metals 13:187–192

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stohs SJ, Bagchi D (1995) Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radic Biol Med 18:321–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzcu A, Bahceci M, Gokalp D, Tuzun Y, Gunes K (2005) Subclinical hypothyroidism may be associated with elevated high-sensitive c-reactive protein (low grade inflammation) and fasting hyperinsulinemia. Endocr J 52(1):89–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderpump M, Tunbridge M (2008) Thyroid disease (The Facts), 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 3

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaman M (2006) Comprehensive comparison of trace metal concentrations in cancerous and non-cancerous human tissues. Curr Med Chem 13:2513–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaichick VY, Tsyb AF, Vtyurin BM (1995) Trace elements and thyroid cancer. Analyst 120:817–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Nusrat Shahab Memon, Tasneem Gul Kazi, Hassan Imran Afridi, Jameel Ahmed Baig, Sadaf Sadia Arain, Oan Muhammad Sahito, Shahnawaz Baloch & Muhammad Waris

Authors
  1. Nusrat Shahab Memon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tasneem Gul Kazi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hassan Imran Afridi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jameel Ahmed Baig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sadaf Sadia Arain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Oan Muhammad Sahito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shahnawaz Baloch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Muhammad Waris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hassan Imran Afridi.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Memon, N.S., Kazi, T.G., Afridi, H.I. et al. Evaluation of calcium and lead interaction, in addition to their impact on thyroid functions in hyper and hypothyroid patients. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 878–886 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5325-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5325-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation