Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Children Can Normalize after Changes in Dietary Intake

Abstract

Background: There is no effective treatment for children with subclinical hypothyroidism. The natural course of subclinical hypothyroidism shows a normalization rate of 41% for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Objective; The thyroid needs (among others) iron, iodine, and vitamin A for a proper thyroid hormone synthesis. We hypothesize that with a dietary change, more children can normalize their TSH. Design: In this case-control study, 54 children aged 1 - 14 years with subclinical hypothyroidism were divided into a diet group and a control group. The diet consisted of green vegetables, beef, full fat milk, and butter. The diet was followed for at least 3 months. A total of 27 patients comprised the diet group and 27 the control group. TSH, Free T4 (FT4), and Body Mass Index (BMI) were evaluated during the follow up. Results: By following this diet, TSH levels decreased significantly compared to when following the natural course. FT4 levels did not change during the follow up. The diet group realized a change of normalizing their TSH with a RR 2.8 (95% CI 1.45 - 5.61). There were no changes in BMI after following the diet. Conclusions: Even though our study population was small, we observed the association of a dietary change and normalization of TSH in children with subclinical hypothyroidism, without adverse effects.