NUTRITION AND ENDEMIC GOITER IN MEXICO.

Abstract

A survey of goiter and nutritional status was conducted in an area near Mexico City. Prevalence of goiter was high among school children and to a lesser degree among adults. Stable iodine balance studies carried out under field conditions and iodine determinations in food and water indicated a deficient iodine intake with probable seasonal variation. Children on the average diet and iodine intake showed a positive iodine balance. Iodine intake was found to be more deficient in children than in adults and seemed to be correlated with their diet, since foodstuffs were the major source of iodine. The fecal iodine excretion was within normal limits and was larger than the urinaryiodine excretion; these observations suggest an obligatory gastro-intestinal loss that may be of importance in severe iodine deficiency. High radioiodine uptake of the thyroid gland was restored to normal levels with the administration of 5 or 10 mg of iodine once a week after 2 to 3 months.