Iodine status and goitre pre valance of a South Indian adult population

Iodine is the essential nutrient needed for thyroid hormone synthesis and its deficiency can produce wide spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). There is very little data available on IDD among adults in India. A cross sectional population survey was done to assess the iodine status and goitre prevalence among adult population of Kerala state where the ban on non-iodized salt is not implemented. House to house survey of 3,069 adults >18 years in the selected areas was carried out and the socio demographic, medical and nutritional status data including use of iodized salt were collected. Among these 986 subjects voluntarily participated in second phase of the study that included goitre grading and urine iodine estimation. showed that 97.4 % of the study populations were using iodized salt and median urine iodine excretion was 216.5 mcg/L suggesting sufficient iodine status. In the population, 15.4% was iodine deficient ( 300mcg/L). Goitre prevalence was 12.1 % (M: 6%; F:16.1%). This observation of high goitre rate for a iodine sufficient area indicates the possible existence of other causes for goitre such as goitreogens or autoimmunity.