Vitamin E ameliorates iodine-induced cytotoxicity in thyroid

Acute and excessive iodine supplementation leads to iodine-induced thyroid cytotoxicity. Excessive oxidative stress has been suggested to be one of the underlying mechanisms in the development of thyroid cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin E (VE), an important antioxidant, could ameliorate iodine-induced thyroid cytotoxicity. A goiter was induced in rats by feeding a low-iodine (LI) diet for 12 weeks. Involution of hyperplasia was obtained by administering a twofold physiological dose of iodine in feeding water with/without the supplementation of 25-, 50-, or 100-fold physiological dose of VE in the LI diet for 4 weeks. In iodine-supplemented rats, thyroid epithelial cell ultrastructure injuries remained and were more severe. Relative weights of iodine-induced involuting glands were significantly reduced compared with the goiter, but still higher than control. Immunohistochemistry indicated that the expression of 4-hydroxynonenal, 8-hydroxyguanine, peroxiredoxin 5, and CD68 in thyroid increased (P < 0.01), whereas thioredoxin reductase 1 decreased (P < 0.01). VE supplementation attenuated thyroid cytotoxicity induced by iodine. A 50-fold VE dose was optimal in attenuating twofold iodine-induced thyroid cytotoxicity. However, VE supplementation did not reduce the weight or relative weight of the iodine-induced involuting gland. These results show that excess iodine leads to thyroid damage and VE supplementation can partly ameliorate iodine-induced thyroid cytotoxicity. Journal of Endocrinology (2011) 209, 299-306