Iodine deficiency in Salzburg in spite of iodized table salt prophylaxis

: Urinary iodine excretion was determined in 293 medical technical and nursing students in hospitals of the province Salzburg. The average urinary iodine excretion amounted to 46.6 +/- 18 micrograms iodine per gram creatinine. 67.6% of the students showed a deficiency of iodine II, whilst 98.3% had a deficiency of iodine I according to WHO criteria. Urinary iodine levels and natriuria are closely correlated, indicating that iodized table salt probably constitutes the most important source of iodine. 73 of the students had a palpable giotre, 10 of these being nodular. Our investigations, together with those of Innsbruck, Graz and Vienna, demonstrate the existence of generalized iodine deficiency in spite of iodized salt prophylaxis, which has been legally enforced in all of Austria since 1963. Iodized table salt prophylaxis has, thus, led to a drastic decrease in goitres in children, but is not sufficient to eliminate iodine deficiency in adults. An increased level of iodization of table salt, as has been put into force in Switzerland, must be called for in Austria, too.