{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T01:45:09Z","timestamp":1768268709533,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objective: Thyroid cancer (TC) represents the most common group of endocrine tumors, and its incidence has increased over the last four decades. The imbalance of trace elements, such as zinc (Zn), has been investigated due to the thyroid\u2019s sensitivity to these elements. Zn is essential for thyroid hormone action and may be involved in the pathogenesis of TC. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to contribute to the discussion on the association between low serum Zn concentrations and the occurrence of TC. Materials and Methods: The search was carried out in the PubMed\/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, LILACS and Web of Science databases, including observational studies published until December 2024. The primary outcome was low serum Zn concentration and the occurrence of TC. Three independent reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data from the original publications. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle\u2013Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Data analysis was performed using R software (V.4.3.1), and heterogeneity was calculated using the I2 statistic, with results based on random effects models. Results: A total of 10 studies (n = 7 case\u2013control and n = 3 cross-sectional) with sample sizes ranging from 44 to 294 individuals were included. The results indicated that serum Zn levels were not significantly lower in patients with TC compared with healthy controls (mean difference: \u2212251.77; 95% confidence interval: \u2212699.09, 195.54; I2 = 100%, very low certainty). Conclusions: Further investigations, including rigorously designed observational studies with representative samples and improved control of potential confounding variables are indispensable.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17172820","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T16:18:15Z","timestamp":1756484295000},"page":"2820","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Zinc Status and Occurrence of Thyroid Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7791-8126","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aline Alves","family":"Soares","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"},{"name":"Department of Nutrition, Liga Contra o C\u00e2ncer, Natal 59062-000, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6242-6988","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yasmin Guerreiro","family":"Nagashima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2343-7251","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Grasiela","family":"Piuvezam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"},{"name":"Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Laboratory (Lab-SYS), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Camila Xavier","family":"Alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel Hospital, Natal 59015-000, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4105-7535","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kleyton Santos de","family":"Medeiros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Education, Research and Innovation, Liga Contra o C\u00e2ncer, Natal 59062-000, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0011-576X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00e1rcia Mar\u00edlia Gomes Dantas","family":"Lopes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition, Postgraduate Program in Sciences Applied to Women\u2019s Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jose","family":"Brandao-Neto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1517\/17530059.2013.800481","article-title":"Diagnosis of thyroid cancer: State of the art","volume":"7","author":"Boufraqech","year":"2013","journal-title":"Expert Opin. 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