Publication:

Study of thyroid profile in malnourished children (6 months - 5 years) admitted in the nutritional rehabilitation centre and paediatric ward NSCB Medical College Jabalpur, India

Background Globally, PEM continues to be a major health problem in developing countries and the most important risk factor for illnesses and death especially among young children. The research was conducted to study the effect of thyroid profile in malnourished children (6 month-5 years) admitted in tertiary care center in Central India.

Methods A cross sectional hospital based observational study was carried out in tertiary care hospital NSCB MCH Jabalpur. 80 malnourished children were included in the study. The cases were categorized into moderate and severe malnutrition as per WHO classification.  Detailed clinical assessment of nutritional status followed by anthropometric measurement (weight for height) was recorded in predesigned proforma. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), serum total protein and serum albumin were estimated. The parameters were compared among SAM and MAM groups using appropriate tool.

Results Mean serum protein, serum albumin, T3, T4 were significantly low in SAM group, when compared to the MAM group (p <0.001). while level of TSH was not found significant among SAM and MAM groups.

Conclusions Malnutrition is associated with decrease level of thyroid hormone levels and were positively correlated with serum total protein and albumin levels. The decrease level of thyroid hormone may have a contributory role in retarded growth and development.