Detection of iodine deficiency in the residents of the Republic of Tajikistan using trace element analysis of hair

Aim. To determine the iodine content in the hair samples from young men from various regions of the Republic of Tajikistan. Materials and methods . The study included 111 male students of Tajik State Medical University from Sughd region, Dushanbe city, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). The participants voluntarily provided hair samples for analysis. The iodine concentration in the samples was measured by mass spectrometry. The study compared iodine levels among volunteers divided into three groups based on their region of origin. In addition, the percentage of participants diagnosed with iodine deficiency within each group was analyzed. Results and discussion . Data analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in hair iodine content among residents of Dushanbe and Sughd regions compared to residents from GBAO. The distribution of iodine deficient participants was uneven: the highest proportion of iodine deficiency cases was observed among residents of Sughd region and Dushanbe, whereas no iodine deficiency was detected among participants from GBAO. The results suggest that iodine deficiency depends on the geographical region of residence. Conclusion. The results indicate that residents of at least two regions of Tajikistan (Dushanbe and Sughd region) are susceptible to iodine deficiency. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of the iodine status of the population.