TRACE ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE (MOSCOW)
2016, 17(2): 36-44
ORIGINAL PAPERS

ROLE OF TRACE ELEMENTS IMBALANCE IN DEVELOPMENT OF ENDEMIC GOITRE AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN OIL AND GAS DISTRICTS OF THE WESTERN REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Kh.I. Kudabayeva ¹, G.K. Koshmaganbetova ¹*, N. Mickuviene 2, A.V. Skalny 4,5, M.G. Skalnaya³

1 Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan State Medical University, Maresyeva str. 68, Aktobe 030019, Kazakhstan
2 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, A.Mickevičiaus str. 9, LT 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
3 ANO Centre for Biotic Medicine, Zemlyanoy Val str. 46, Moscow 105064, Russia
4 All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Grina str. 7/1, Moscow 117216, Russia
5 Orenburg State University, Pobedy ave. 13, Orenburg 460018, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2016-17-2-36-44 

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the study was to compare the levels of trace elements in hair of children aged 7–11 years with goiter and without goiter living in the oil and gas area and ecologically safe areas of the Western Kazakhstan. Evaluation of thyroid volume was performed using ultrasound. Urinary iodine excretion was determined using express test. Concentrations of trace elements in hair were measured by combined atomic emission and mass spectrometry. The results of this study showed that the incidence of goiter in oil and gas districts was 44.6%, while in ecologically safe areas it was 8.3% (p < 0.001). In the oil and gas districts the optimal values of urinary iodine were observed in 57% of cases, in the environmentally safe areas – in 51.5%. The multielement analysis of hair taken from 7–11 year-old children living in the oil and gas districts has revealed an excess of silicon, boron, manganese, vanadium, deficiency of chromium and zinc. Mean contents of silicon and boron in hair samples were significantly higher in children from the oil and gas regions as compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The silicon and boron imbalance was suggested to be a significant factor influencing thyroid volume changes.

KEYWORDS: trace elements, children, goiter, hair analysis, Western Kazakhstan.