A new study published this week in Archives of Gontiology and Geriatrics plus He found that 10% of South Asia immigrants aged 45 or older in Canada had hypothyroidism. After adjusting for a wide range of socio -demographic characteristics and health behaviors, those who had migrated from South Asia had 77% higher chance of hypothyroidism than those born in Canada.
“As far as we know, this is the first study that detects a significantly higher chance of hypothyroidism among the immigrants of South Asian origin,” says senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, a professor at Factor-Inwentash Faclust of Social Work (Fifsw) and Manager for The Life Institute lesson and aging at the University of Toronto. “Since previous studies have identified lower thyroid control rates among immigrants to Canada, these results emphasize the need for increased sorting efforts among South Asia immigrants.”
When left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to adverse effects on health, such as anemia, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and neurological dysfunction.
“An important area for future studies is the possibility that the disproportionate rates of hypothyroidism among South Asia immigrants may be related to an endemic iodine deficiency in their countries of origin,” says first author Zhidi Deng, a medical student at the University of Alberta. “Iodine deficiency is known to develop hypothyroidism.” Unfortunately, the research used in the current study did not contain information on the participant’s iodine levels, so this case could not be investigated.
In addition to the condition of immigrants, the study found diet as another important associated with hypothyroidism.
We found that those with lower dietary fat intake or people with higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables and pulse and nuts were significantly less likely to have hypothyroidism. These findings shed light on a possible advantage of non -pharmacological interventions based on nutrition in prevention or management of hypothyroidism, although additional research is still required. “
Karen M. Davison, co-author, nutritionist epidemiologist
Increased age has also been recognized as a factor that increased the likelihood of hypothyroidism.
“People over the age of 75 had double the prevalence of hypothyroidism compared to those aged 45-55,” says co-writer Andie Macneil, a doctoral student at Fifsw at the University of Toronto. “Autoimmune thyroiditis is a common cause of hypothyroidism among older adults and can be a guide to this increased prevalence.”
This study was based on the Canadian timeless study on aging and analyzed a sample of 26,036 Canadians between the ages of 45-85, of which 1,953 had hypothyroidism.
Although timely recognition and treatment of hypothyroidism is important to minimize the effects that can be prevented for health, symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain and depression, are non -specific and therefore may be difficult to Identify the condition without blood tests, especially among older adults.
“This study has identified some new potential potential risks and preventive factors for hypothyroidism, paving ways for future studies,” Fuller-Thomson said “We hope that results from this study will promote increased control over thyroid conditions between older people Adult, especially among these southern Asia origin.
Source:
Magazine report:
Deng, Z., et al. (2025). The relationship between the regime of immigrants, the cultural/racial background and hypothyroidism between middle -aged and elderly Canadians: an analysis of Canadian timeless study in aging data. Archives of Gontiology and Geriatrics plus. doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100129.
