REVIEW ERS ' CONCLUSIONS Despite most of the included studies being of low quality , the results suggest that iodine supplementation , especially iodised oil , is an effective means of decreasing goitre rates and improving iodine status in children .
Indications of positive effects on physical and mental development and mortality were seen , although results were not always significant .
Adverse effects were generally minor and transient .
BACKGROUND Iodine deficiency is the main cause of potentially preventable mental retardation in childhood , as well as causing goitre and hypothyroidism in people of all ages .
It is still prevalent in large parts of the world .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of iodine supplementation overall , and of different forms and dosages of iodine supplementation separately , in the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders in children .
The effect of varying doses of oral iodized oil in the prophylaxis of endemic goitre in elementary schools children.
The effect of oral iodine supplementation on total goitre rate ( % TGR ) and urinary iodine excretion among school children 4 to 16 years of age was studied . In the first group ( n = 57 ) 200 mg oral iodized oil reduced % TGR from 31.6 % to 17.5 % and 33.3 % to 24.6 % in males and females respectively , while in the second group ( n = 53 ) , 400 mg iodine reduced the % TGR from 34.0 % to 20.8 % in males and 35.9 % to 24.5 % in females after 13 months of intervention . This gave a relative indication that the 200 mg is as effective as the 400 mg in goitre reduction . In subsequent tests , the maximum urinary iodine excretion was obtained from the groups which received two doses of iodized oil 24 hours after the intervention . A significant ( p = 0.003 ) greater increase in urinary iodine excretion was noted at 24 hours among both male and female children administered 400 mg than among those who received 200 mg . Measurements after 24 hours showed no significant difference between urinary iodine excretion of the two dose groups . These results suggest that : ( i ) 200 mg is likely equally effective as 400 mg for iodine deficiency disorders control and prevention among children and ( ii ) iodine could be administered annually rather than biannually
REVIEW ERS ' CONCLUSIONS Despite most of the included studies being of low quality , the results suggest that iodine supplementation , especially iodised oil , is an effective means of decreasing goitre rates and improving iodine status in children .
Indications of positive effects on physical and mental development and mortality were seen , although results were not always significant .
Adverse effects were generally minor and transient .
BACKGROUND Iodine deficiency is the main cause of potentially preventable mental retardation in childhood , as well as causing goitre and hypothyroidism in people of all ages .
It is still prevalent in large parts of the world .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of iodine supplementation overall , and of different forms and dosages of iodine supplementation separately , in the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders in children .