Open AccessComplete elimination of iodine deficiency-induced diseases in the Republic of Serbia through overall salt iodination
Author(s) -
M. Simic,
M. Banisevic,
Z. Andjelkovic,
G. Zivic,
L. Zikic,
D. Beloglav,
Davor Šimić,
G. A. Gerasimov,
Б. П. Мищенко
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
problemy èndokrinologii
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.124
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2308-1430
pISSN - 0375-9660
DOI - 10.14341/probl11455
Subject(s) - iodine deficiency , iodine , cretinism , iodised salt , medicine , goiter , pediatrics , potassium iodate , iodide , thyroid , environmental health , chemistry , organic chemistry
The territory of Serbia has been long known to be an iodine deficiency area. The surveys conducted in the past 50 years have shown that iodine deficiency disorders ranged from small goiters to endemic cretinism. The iodine deficiency control program has been implemented in Serbia since 1951, in so doing, the salt concentration of iodine (as potassium iodide) has been gradually increased and at present it is 20 mg/kg. Just in the mid- 1960s, iodine prophylaxis led to cessation of new cases of cretinism and large goiters.This survey was undertaken to determine the iodine provision in Serbia. The survey was conducted in accordance with the WHO, UNICEF, and ICCIDD guidelines and it covered 4598 schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years from the urban and rural areas of 44 municipalities of Central Serbia and Vojvodina. Among all the examinees, the detection rate of the enlarged thyroid was 2.35% (as evidenced by ultrasound study) and the median urinary iodine concentration was 158 μg/l. The findings suggest that iodine deficiency has been completely eliminated in Serbia due to the effective program of the overall dietary salt iodination.