Iodine metabolism in children and women with endemic goitre in Ceylon

Abstract

1. Iodine metabolism was studied using labelled sodium iodide in subjects with endemic goitre which is prevalent in the south-west part of Ceylon, where the iodine content of the drinking water was shown to be low. The study was confined mostly to children of school age.2. The patients showed raised thyroidal uptake of 181I and 48 h serum protein-bound radio-active iodine, lowered plasma inorganic iodide and urinary iodide.3. These findings suggest that the goitre which is endemic in Ceylon is due to environmental iodine deficiency rather than to a goitrogen.