Prevention of endemic goitre with iodized salt.

The paper describes a study, carried out over 16 years, of the use of iodized salt for the control of endemic goitre in a valley of the Himalayan foothills. From 1956, salt was fortified with either potassium iodide or potassium iodate to provide an estimated daily intake of 200 mug per head. There was a progressive and significant decline in goitre prevalence, together with a return of the pattern of iodine metabolism to within normal limits.

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF AN EXPERIMENT IN THE KANGRA VALLEY FOR THE PREVENTION OF HIMALAYAN ENDEMIC GOITRE WITH IODIZED SALT.

This report incorporates the results of an investigation designed to test the effectiveness of potassium iodide and potassium iodate in the control of Himalayan endemic goitre when these compounds are added in small physiological doses to the domestic salt habitually consumed by the people in the endemic belt. In a prospective study lasting five years, a striking reduction in the prevalence of goitre was observed in areas receiving salt fortified with either potassium iodide or potassium iodate. During the same period, goitre prevalence remained unchanged in the control zone, which received plain, unfortified salt.