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Urinary iodine and thyroid volume in a Swedish population
Author(s) -
Milakovic M.,
Berg G.,
Nyström E.,
Lindstedt G.,
GebreMedhin M.,
Eggertsen R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2004.01318.x
Subject(s) - medicine , iodine , thyroid , goiter , iodine deficiency , population , pediatrics , ultrasonography , endocrinology , surgery , environmental health , materials science , metallurgy
. Objective. To evaluate the present efficacy of an iodine supplementation programme working in Sweden since 1936 by studying the iodine excretion in urine and determining the thyroid volume in a population in a semi‐rural community. Design. A cross‐sectional population screening comprising three age groups with randomly selected individuals: group 1 (children): 7–9 years, n = 61 (invited 70); group 2 (teenagers): 15–17 years, n = 61 (invited 63), and group 3 (adults): 60–65 years; n = 57 (invited 73). Main measurements. Urinary iodine was measured spectrophotometrically; thyroid volume by ultrasonography. Results. The median values for urinary iodine concentration in the three age groups were 194 μg L −1 , 246 μg L −1 and 190 μg L −1 , respectively, indicating an adequate iodine intake. In the 7–9 year olds, the median value of the thyroid volume was 4.7 mL, which coincides with the recently established upper limit of normal children of that age, 4.0–4.8 mL (ICCIDD, International Council for control iodine deficiency disorders). One eight‐year‐old boy had a pronounced goiter. Four teenagers and one adult were found to have an enlarged thyroid gland according to earlier established reference volumes (15 years >16 mL; adults > 25 mL). Conclusion. We conclude that the iodine intake in our region is sufficient in age groups ranging from young children to pre‐retirement adults.