lODINE AND GOITRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 11

lODINE AND GOITRE

NEW ZEALAND RESEARCHES BRITISH APPRECIATION The existence uf some Greet correlation between the level of iodine intake and the local prevalence of endemic goitre has been shown by investigators in America, France, Switzerland, and New Zealand, and a revival of interest in the problem is shown, states a n cent editorial iu the British Medical Journal by the publication of careful work carried out in places where goi tre is endemic. Kimball, for instance, has reported the esults of exhaustive goitre survey and water analyses in Michigan, U.S.A.; the iodine content of tho water appeared to bo invorsel.x proportional to the incidence of goitre. Research Work in New Zealand Praised The editorial further states that during the last few years investiga tious made in New Zealand, where in places goistre is endemic, Jed tu a restatement of tho hypothesis that the i incidence of goitre was related inverse ly to tho iodine content of tho soil. ■ Horens, Benson, and Carter, in 192.7, published tho data obtained from the analyses of 470 soil samples and th> examination of 80,750 children. In a more intensive study by Dr. R. A. Shore, of the New Zealand Health Department, and Mr R. L. Andrew, of the Dominion Laboratory, us a result, ot the examination of 24,000 school chi I dren, and the analysis of 300 soils in certain well-defined districts in The ' North Island of New Zealand, the same I interesting inverse relationship is in 1 the main established. Tho report is valuable in that the analysis was entirely done by one worker, while the I goitre percentages were compiled by | another, and the results of the work carried out independently by each ob- [ server were afterwards collated. No I relation was found between the iodine | content of iho potable waters and tne i incidence of goitre. This may. of course, be due to the fact that a great deal of the water supply comes from upland surface reservoirs, largely dependent on melting snow for replenishment, mid much less from deep springs, which are more likely to con lain iodine. In other parts of the world—for example, in Finland—evidence was obtained of a positive reI lation betiveen the prevalence of goitre and a low iodine c |itent of water, l .ougii many exceptions were found. It xvould, indeed, be, surprising if a close nexus were proved, under modern con ditions H’ exchai' l ;.' of foodstuffs be tween different districts and importation from other countries. It would be diz.icult to find a people living only on the produce of its own district, enabling a clean experiment to be made. Tho results obtained by Shore and An drew in New Zealand, are, therefore, the more striking in that where there is a high iodine content in tho soil there is a loxv incidence of goitre, and where there is a loxv iodine content. ! there is n high incidence of goitre. Preventive Measures W hile the question uf the iodine content of the environment in relation to tiie prevalence of goitre is thus still open, it may fairly be presumed that a gland which contains such a rclft lively large amount of iodino must, have an adequate supply of iodine in oi.ler to 'continue to function normally. Attempts to increase the amount ot • ■ : ;ie 'i.g.tsied by using iodised salt have apparently lessened tho goitre incidence in school children in districts oi the United States of America and in .\e\x > Zealand. Since sea-fish contain a considerable amount of iodine, ti’o addition of sea fish to the diet has also been advocated. Many workers have published their \ iexvs and obscr vat ions on tho problem of the relation of iodine to the causation of goitre. There is, at present, no general agree nieiit: but the issues are becoming clearer, and it is to be expected that, the xvork being done in various parti of the xx'orld may lead to a couvlusiorj that will offer a convincing solution tc the problem. It is encouraging to note that tho research work proceeding in Nexv Zea land, according to the authority quoted, is adding materially to tho sum of knowledge necessary for the ultiinato conquest of this widespread disease.