Kashin–Beck Osteoarthropathy in Rural Tibet in Relation to Selenium and Iodine Status

Abstract

Kashin–Beck disease is a degenerative osteoarticular disorder that is endemic to certain areas of Tibet, where selenium deficiency is also endemic. Because selenium is involved in thyroid hormone metabolism, we studied the relation among the serum selenium concentration, thyroid function, and Kashin–Beck disease in 575 subjects 5 to 15 years of age in 12 villages around Lhasa, Tibet, including 1 control village in which no subject had Kashin–Beck disease. Clinical, radiologic, and biochemical data were collected.