Urinary iodine and thyroid volume in a Swedish population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the present efficacy of an iodine supplementation programme working in Sweden since 1936 by studying the iodine excretion in urine and determining the thyroid volume in a population in a semi-rural community.


METHODS
A cross-sectional population screening comprising three age groups with randomly selected individuals: group 1 (children): 7-9 years, n = 61 (invited 70); group 2 (teenagers): 15-17 years, n = 61 (invited 63), and group 3 (adults): 60-65 years; n = 57 (invited 73).


METHODS
Urinary iodine was measured spectrophotometrically; thyroid volume by ultrasonography.


RESULTS
The median values for urinary iodine concentration in the three age groups were 194 microg L(-1), 246 microg L(-1) and 190 microg L(-1), respectively, indicating an adequate iodine intake. In the 7-9 year olds, the median value of the thyroid volume was 4.7 mL, which coincides with the recently established upper limit of normal children of that age, 4.0-4.8 mL (ICCIDD, International Council for control iodine deficiency disorders). One eight-year-old boy had a pronounced goiter. Four teenagers and one adult were found to have an enlarged thyroid gland according to earlier established reference volumes (15 years >16 mL; adults > 25 mL).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the iodine intake in our region is sufficient in age groups ranging from young children to pre-retirement adults.
Milakovic
M
M
Department of Primary Health Care, Mölnlycke Primary Health Care and Research Centre, Göteborg, Sweden.
Berg
G
G
Nyström
E
E
Lindstedt
G
G
Gebre-Medhin
M
M
Eggertsen
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012423:Rural Health; D013548:Sweden; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007455:Iodine