Association of serum ferritin level with thyroid profile in patients of hypothyroidism in Uttara Kannada district

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrinological disorders affecting a large section of the population. For the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, iron is essential. It is a trace element stored as ferritin in the body. Studies have suggested that ferritin levels in serum seem to be altered in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Aims and Objectives: To determine serum ferritin in hypothyroid individuals and to correlate it with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total T3, and total T4 levels. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences, Karwar, where blood samples from 82 patients with hypothyroidism (age >18 years) were collected after obtaining informed consent, and biochemical parameters such as total T3, T4, TSH, and serum ferritin were estimated. Variables were expressed as mean, standard deviation, and percentages. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find the association between variables. P<0.05 is statistically significant. Results: The mean±standard deviation for TSH was 16.05±19.2 and for serum ferritin was 117.29±54.97. A significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin and TSH levels (P<0.001). Serum ferritin also showed a weak positive association with total T4 levels, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The present study showcases an inverse relationship between thyroid dysfunction and iron stores, bringing to attention the potential role of iron status in the evaluation and treatment of hypothyroidism.