Thyroid function in rats with iodine deficiency is not further impaired by concurrent, marginal zinc deficiency.

The hypothesis tested was that Zn deficiency aggravates impaired thyroid function as induced by I deficiency. In two separate experiments male rats were fed on diets either deficient in Zn or in I, or deficient in both. An identical, restricted amount of food was given to each rat so that body-weight gain of the experimental groups was comparable. Zn deficiency was evidenced by reduced tibial Zn concentrations. I deficiency was evidenced by goitre, reduced urinary I excretion, reduced plasma thyroxine concentrations and reduced absolute amounts and concentrations of thyroxine in the thyroid. Zn deficiency had no effect on the raised thyroid weight as induced by I deficiency. Zn restriction from 184 mumol Zn/kg diet to 31 mumol Zn/kg diet, but not to 92 mumol Zn/kg diet, significantly lowered plasma thyroxine concentration. There were no interrelated effects of Zn and I deficiencies on thyroid hormone levels. These results indicate that marginal Zn deficiency does not influence thyroid hormone metabolism in I deficiency.