Alimentary iodine deficiency in the Federal Republic of Germany (author's transl)

Abstract

Urinary iodine excretion of 1945 schoolchildren aged 13 to 15-years from 24 cities throughout the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was measured. For comparison, urinary excretion of 5678 adults from 20 cities was calculated from the 24-hour radio-iodine uptake (RIU) by the method of Oddie. On the average the schoolchildren excreted 25.1 mug iodine per g creatinine: by WHO criteria this can be classified as a grade II iodine deficiency. There was a significant decline of urinary iodine excretion from North to South of the FRG. Urinary iodine excretion of children with thyroid enlargement (21.9 mug/g) was significantly less than that of normal children (26.1 mug/g creatinine; P less th that 0.0005). Urinary iodine excretion of adults averaged 25 to 35 mug/g creatinine, values calculated from RIU agreeing well with those determined chemically. Alimentary iodine intake was found to vary between 30 and 70 mug/d throughout the FRG, which is less than 30% of WHO recommended figures for optimal goitre prevention (150-200 mug iodine per day). Alimentary iodine deficiency has been demonstrated throughout the FRG, increasing from North to South in parallel with an increase in goitre rate. Goitre prevention through compulsory iodinization of salt is recommended.