Effectiveness of a Low-Iodine Diet in Post-Thyroidectomy Thyroid Cancer Patients Receiving I-131 Therapy at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital.
The effects of a low-iodine diet intervention in post-thyroidectomy thyroid cancer patients undergoing radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy has been shown to the improve clinical outcomes of patients worldwide. However, studies evaluating the 24-h dietary intake of low-iodine diets for thyroid cancer patients in Vietnam remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of the low-iodine diet and to compare the diet between patients who managed it on their own and those who received guidance from nutrition specialists, with the aim of developing a more effective dietary regimen and monitoring intervention. This was a controlled interventional study comparing two groups: the intervention group received a specialized low-iodine diet designed by a team of experts, while the control group followed the standard hospital low-iodine diet protocol. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by measuring urinary iodine concentration and 24-h dietary intake. The mean urinary iodine concentration in the intervention group was lower than in the control group (9.2±3.9 vs. 10.3±3.5 μg/dL), though the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Regarding 24-h dietary intake, the proportion of patients meeting energy and protein requirements was higher in the intervention group (p<0.05). Dietary intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was also significantly higher in the intervention group (p<0.05). Nutritional intervention helped ensure adequate energy intake and improved the provision of specific nutrients for patients undergoing I-131 therapy after thyroid cancer surgery.