Effects of a low-iodine diet in post-thyroidectomy thyroid cancer patients undergoing I 131 therapy at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital.

This article focuses on assessing the effects of a low-iodine diet on post-thyroidectomy thyroid cancer patients preparing for I^131 therapy at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital. The study found that nutritional counseling and adherence to a low-iodine diet significantly reduced the risk of malnutrition and hypocalcemia, as well as lowered urinary iodine levels, which may enhance the effectiveness of subsequent I^131 therapy. However, the intervention was associated with a decline in patients' quality of life, particularly in physical and emotional functioning and symptom burden. The findings suggest that while malnutrition is not prevalent among these patients, careful nutritional management is important to support treatment outcomes despite some negative impacts on quality of life.