scholarly journals Prevalence of Goiter and Urinary Iodine Excretion Levels in Children Around Chernobyl*

1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 3430-3433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoto Ashizawa ◽  
Yoshisada Shibata ◽  
Shunichi Yamashita ◽  
Hiroyuki Namba ◽  
Masaharu Hoshi ◽  
...  

Abstract The prevalence of goiter among children living in areas affected by the Chernobyl accident was investigated by analysis of data on approximately 120,000 children examined at five medical diagnostic centers in Belarus, Russia, and the Ukraine. Examinations of thyroid gland were conducted with an arch-automatic ultrasonographic instrument at the five centers under the same protocol. The diagnosis of goiter was established when the thyroid volume exceeded a limit calculated from age, height, and body weight of a child. A considerable variation by region was noted in the prevalence of goiter. Highest in the Kiev region, the prevalence in the five regions was 54% in Kiev, 38% in the Zhitomir regions of the Ukraine, 18% in Gomel, 22% in the Mogilev regions of Belarus, and 41% in the Bryansk region of Russia. Urinary iodine content was measured in approximately 5700 children, and an endemic iodine deficient zone was confirmed in the Bryansk, Kiev, and Zhitomir regions. A significant negative correlation was observed between the prevalence of goiter and the median level of urinary iodine content (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was −0.35, P = 0.025).

2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (05) ◽  
pp. 197-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Baczyk ◽  
K. Ziemnicka ◽  
J. Sowixnski ◽  
R. Junik

Summary:Poland, a country with mild/moderate iodine deficiency introduced an obligatory iodination salt system in 1996. Aim: To compare the results of radioiodine (131I) uptake after 5 h and 24 h with the activity of radioiodine used in the treatment of hyperthyroid patients with Graves’ disease in the years 1995 and 2003. Patients, methods: The marker of iodine content in the diet was urinary iodine excretion. 1000 randomly chosen patients (average age: 46 ± 12 years) were included in the study. Every patient had routinely estimated radioiodine uptake after 5 h and 24 h and the activity of 131I was calculated using scintigraphy and ultrasonography of the thyroid gland. Urinary iodine excretion in samples from year 1995 and 2003 was also determined in some patients and healthy volunteers. Results: The iodine load in the diet increased from 66 μg (average) in the year 1995 to 115 μg in the year 2003. Thyroid radioiodine uptake was 40% lower in comparison with the results from 1995. The average activity of 131I given in the year 2003 (10 mCi) was about 40% higher than in the year 1995 (7 mCi). Conclusion: There was significant negative correlation between higher iodine content in the diet and lower values of radioiodine uptake, which led to the application of the higher activity of 131I during treatment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh Kapil ◽  
Thakur Dutt Sharma ◽  
Preeti Singh ◽  
Sada Nand Dwivedi ◽  
Supreet Kaur

Background A survey conducted by the central iodine-deficiency disorders team in Himachal Pradesh, a state in the goiter-endemic belt of India, revealed that 10 of its 12 districts have an endemic prevalence of goiter. The survey was conducted to provide health program managers data to determine whether it would be necessary to initiate intervention measures. Objective To assess the status of urinary iodine excretion and household salt iodization levels after three decades of a complete ban on the sale of noniodized salt in this goiter-endemic state in India as measured by assessment of urinary iodine excretion levels and iodine content of salt at the household level. Methods The guidelines recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD for a rapid assessment of salt iodization were adopted. In each of the 12 studied districts, all senior secondary schools were enlisted and one school was selected by using a random sampling procedure. Two hundred fifty children 11 to 18 years of age were included in the study. Urine samples were collected from a minimum of 170 children and analyzed using the wet digestion method. Salt samples were also collected from a minimum of 170 children and analyzed using the spot testing kit. Results All districts had a median urinary iodine excretion level > 200 μg/L and 82% of the families were consuming salt with an iodine content of 15 ppm or higher. Conclusions The results of the present study highlight the successful implementation of the salt iodization program in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This positive impact may be due to the comprehensive strategy adopted by the state government to improve the quality of salt, development of an effective monitoring information system and effective information, education, and communication activities.


1993 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 497-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Aghini-Lombardi ◽  
A Pinchera ◽  
L Antonangeli ◽  
T Rago ◽  
GF Fenzi ◽  
...  

It is well established that iodine supplementation is effective in correcting iodine deficiency and reducing goiter prevalence. In Italy, legislation has allowed the production of iodized salt since 1972, but its consumption is on a voluntary basis. In the present study, the efficacy of legislative measures that made compulsory the availability of iodized salt in foodstores has been evaluated. Urinary iodine excretion and thyroid size, scored according to Pan American Health Organization recommendations, were determined prior to (1981) and 10 years after (1991) the introduction of legislative measures in the whole schoolchildren population residing in a restricted area of the Tuscan Appennines. Moreover, in 1991, thyroid volume was determined by ultrasonography. In 1981, mean urinary iodine excretion was 47.1±22.4 mg/kg creatinine (0.412 μmol/l) and goiter prevalence was 60%, indicating a moderate iodine deficiency. Eighty of the families subsequently used iodized salt on a regular basis; as a result of this excellent compliance, in 1991 the mean urinary iodine excretion increased to 129.7±73 mg/kg creatinine (1.24 μmol/l) and goiter prevalence dropped to 8.1%. The results of this study underline the effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in correcting iodine deficiency and abating endemic goiter in schoolchildren, and suggest that implementation of measures that make compulsory the availability of iodized salt in foodstores overcomes the fact that there is no law governing the exclusive production and trading of iodized salt.


1993 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birte Nygaard ◽  
Peter Gideon ◽  
Harriet Dige-Petersen ◽  
Niels Jespersen ◽  
Karsten Sølling ◽  
...  

In order to throw light upon the eventual need for iodine supplementation in Denmark, four age groups of women (15, 30, 45 and 60 years) from the Holbaek municipality were invited for a clinical and ultrasound study of thyroid volume, structure and function. Of the 570 women invited, 391 accepted and were divided into the following groups: group I: 15 years, N= 113; group II: 30 years, N= 100; group III: 45 years, N=98; group IV: 60 years, N=80. The results were as follows: the thyroid gland was palpable in 39% and visible in 16% of the entire group; 19% had a family history of thyroid disorders and 7.6% had a previous thyroid disorder. Thyroid volumes (median (range)) as measured by ultrasound were 12 ml (4–29 ml), 18 ml (5–47 ml), 18 ml (7–64 ml) and 18 ml (9-51 ml) in groups I– IV, respectively. The calculated 24-h iodine excretion was 65 μg (19–365 μg), 88 μg (15-274 μg), 97 μg (40–737 μg) and 83 μg (50–999 μg) in groups I–IV, respectively. An abnormal echo structure was present in 3, 10, 21 and 30%, respectively. Defining a goitre as a thyroid volume above 28 ml indicated a goitre prevalence of 17% in females aged 30–60 years in the Holbaek area of Denmark. Among the 60-year-old women, 3% had a clinically significant goitre (WHO grade III). Thyroid volume did not correlate with iodine excretion. The benefit of iodine supplementation is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariacarla Moleti ◽  
Maria Di Mauro ◽  
Giuseppe Paola ◽  
Antonella Olivieri ◽  
Francesco Vermiglio

AbstractIodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Its availability strictly depends on iodine content of foods, which may vary from very low to very high. Inadequate iodine intake (deficiency or excess) may affect thyroid function resulting in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Based on median urinary iodine concentrations, epidemiological criteria have been established for the categorization and monitoring of nutritional iodine status of a population (or subgroups of populations). Additional methods for iodine intake assessment include measurement of thyroid size (by thyroid palpation or ultrasonography) and of biochemical parameters, such as neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones.Recent studies carried out in overweight/obese children and adults provide evidence that body mass index (BMI) may significantly influence the above indicators, thus theoretically affecting the epidemiological evaluation of nutritional iodine status in populations.In this short review, we analyze current knowledge on the effects of overweight and obesity on indicators of adequacy and monitoring of iodine status, namely urinary iodine excretion and thyroid volume and echogenicity.Data on urinary iodine excretion in overweight/obese children are divergent, as both increased and reduced levels have been reported in overweight/obese children compared to normal-weight controls.Whether gastrointestinal surgery may affect iodine absorption and lead to iodine deficiency in patients undergoing bariatric surgery has been evaluated in a limited number of studies, which excluded iodine deficiency, thus suggesting that supplements usually recommended after bariatric surgery do not need to include iodine.Albeit limited, evidence on thyroid volume and obesity is consistent with a direct relationship between thyroid volume and BMI, irrespective of nutritional iodine status. Finally, a higher frequency of thyroid hypoechoic pattern has been described in overweight/obese children. This finding has been recently related to an increased adipocyte infiltration and thyroid parenchyma imbibition mediated by inflammatory cytokines and should be considered when the frequency of thyroid hypoechoic pattern is used as non-invasive marker to indirectly assess thyroid autoimmunity in monitoring Universal Salt Iodization programs. Further studies, specifically addressing the role of schoolchildren body mass index as a factor potentially influencing iodine intake indicators are needed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Hintze ◽  
Dieter Emrich ◽  
Klaus Richter ◽  
Hanne Thal ◽  
Horst Thal ◽  
...  

Abstract. The availability of iodinated salt containing 20 mg of iodine as iodate/kg salt consumed on a voluntary basis enabled us to investigate its effect on goitre prevalence and iodine excretion in urine in a longitudinal, prospective, randomized study over 4 years. With this salt, under the assumption of a consumption of 5 g salt per day and person, an additional intake of 100 μg of iodine can be achieved. The study was performed on initially 334 children (168 boys, 166 girls) at the age of 10 years living in an area of iodine deficiency. After 4 years, 286 children still participated in the study. Initially, goitre prevalence as assessed by palpation was found to be 30.5% (37.4% in girls and 23.8% in boys). Neck circumference was found to be significantly higher in children with goitre compared with those without (30.2 ± 1.4 vs 29.4 ± 1.4 cm; P < 0.001). Iodine excretion in the urine was significantly lower in children with goitre compared with those without (40.4 ± 16.7 μg/g creatinine vs 46.1 ± 24.9 μg/g creatinine; x ± sd; P < 0.05). The children were randomly assigned to two different groups: group A (N = 146) was asked to use iodinated salt, group B (N = 188) non-iodinated salt. Over the 4 years, a continuous increase in iodine excretion in urine could be demonstrated in group A. After 1 year, it was significantly higher than in the control group that used non-iodinated salt. After 4 years, the mean iodine excretion in children using iodinated salt was 60.1 ± 24.1 μg/g creatinine in contrast to 45.1 ± 18.6 μg/g in the control group (x ± sd; P< 0.0001). However, no decrease in goitre prevalence could be documented: after 4 years, 23.8% of the children belonging to the group using iodinated salt and 22.5% of those in the group taking non-iodinated salt had a goitre. From these observations we conclude: 1. The voluntary use of a commercially available iodinated salt containing 20 mg iodate/kg leads to a significant increase in iodine intake, measured by urinary iodine excretion. Even after 4 years, the value is far below the daily iodine intake recommended by the WHO. No decrease in goitre frequency could be assessed. 2. An increase in iodine ingestion can be achieved either by increasing the iodine content of the salt or by application of iodine by alternative measures. The safest way would be to use iodinated salt exclusively, i.e. also in the food industry and restaurants. An increase in the iodine content of the salt and its continuous voluntary use would lead to a large variation in iodine intake. A higher risk of adverse reaction, e.g. iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis, cannot be excluded in susceptible persons.


2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Yamada ◽  
D. Oyunchimeg ◽  
P. Enkhtuya ◽  
A. Erdenbat ◽  
A. Buttumur ◽  
...  

In 1992, the Mongolian government conducted a nationwide palpation study of the thyroid glands, and the study showed an overall goiter rate of 30%. As a result of this, the Mongolian Government launched its Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Elimination Programme in 1996 and its primary strategy was salt iodization. In 1998 and 1999, we carried out programme monitoring studies in 11 provinces. The results showed: among schoolchildren, a goiter rate was 22.8% (n=6,535), median values of urinary iodine excretion ranged from 11 μg/l to 256 μg/l (n=1,930), and usage rates of iodized salt (>20 PPM iodine content) in their households ranged from 3% to 82%. We concluded that severe iodine deficiency in 1992 was improved from moderate to mild severity a few years later by salt iodization. However, stronger official commitments and community participation are needed to improve the programme so that iodized salt will be made more widely available. Asia Pac JPublic Health 2000;12(2): 79-84


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