Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Among women over 40 the prevalence of goiter in Poland is over 40% and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is over 80%. There have not been any previous studies that investigate the vitamin D level in women with and without goiter.

Methods: 152 women-96 with and 56 without nontoxic goiter were examined in 2014. In US examination we calculated the volume of the thyroid gland and volume of nodules. Blood samples for 25-(OH) D total were taken. We made statistical analysis of correlation between volume of the thyroid gland, volume of the nodules and levels of vitamin D.

Results: 96 women with goiter size from 5.67 ml to 68.85 ml – mean 19.7 ml, median 15.6 ml, the total nodules volume varied from 0.1 to 39 ml mean 4.59 ml, median 0.94 ml and the control group of 50 women with thyroid volume in normal range from 5.1 to 19.9 mean 11.2, median 11.2 ml. The 25(OH) total levels varied in control group from 5.3 to 31.8 ng/ml, mean – 14.4, median 12.95, and in goiter group from 4.7 to 39.8 ng/ml, mean 15.00, median 13.3 ng/ml. Only 14% in control and 22% in goiter group had vitamin level over 20 ng/ml. We found no correlation between vitamin D level and volume of thyroid gland in goiter group and no correlation between vitamin D level and summary volume of the thyroid nodules. There is negative correlation between vit. D level and thyroid volume in healthy subjects.

Discussion: As vitamin D deficiency affects majority of both groups and can result in osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and increased risk of fragility fractures, our study demonstrates the importance of screening and educating a broader age group of women with goiter disease but also in the ‘healthy’ population.

Conclusion: There is an unacceptably high level of vitamin D deficiency among women in both examined groups. The pleiotropic effects of vitamin D seems to be insignificant in development of goiter, but may play a role in healthy thyroid.