[Iodine prophylaxis in Poland in light of the WHO recommendation on reduction of the daily salt intake].

Iodine prophylaxis started in Poland in 1935, was suspended in periods of time 1939-1945 and 1980-1988. In 1991 Polish Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (PCCIDD) was established and epidemiological survey performed in 1992-1993, defined Poland as an area with moderated - at seaside part as light - severity of iodine deficiency. In 1996 the Minister of Health introduced disposition on obligatory iodization of household salt with 30+/-10 mg KJ/kg and neonates formula with 10 ug/100 ml. Additionally supplementation the pregnant and breast feeding women with daily dose of iodides 100-150 ug was recommended. This very effective model resulted with eradication of endemic goiter in schoolchildren 6-12-years-old, decrease of prevalence of goiter in adults and pregnant women decrease of frequency of the elevated TSH concentration in neonates blood and decrease of dynamic of increasing an incidence rate of differentiated thyroid cancer and its follicular fraction. Poland has been defined by WHO and ICCIDD as a country with sufficient iodine prophylaxis and WHO collaborating Centre for Nutrition has been established at the Department of Endocrinology CMUJ in Krakow. WHO in 2006 and 2007 formulated recommendation on reduction of daily salt intake and additional new carriers of iodine are recommended: milk and natural mineral water containing known concentration of iodide (100-200 ug/l). The coordinating organization for iodine prophylaxis in Poland is PCCIDD as executive body of the National Program for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency financed by the Ministry of Health.