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 effects of different doses of oral iodized oil on goiter size, urinary iodine, and thyroid-related hormones.
The prevention of iodine deficiency is still a worldwide concern . This study , conducted in Soja in western Sudan , was carried out to evaluate the effects of a dose of iodized oil sufficient enough to give maximum protection against goiter and provide an acceptable iodine supply without side-effects over a sufficiently long period of time . Adult goitrous subjects ( n = 117 ) were r and omly assigned to three groups , A , B , and C , and received a single oral dose of 200 , 400 , or 800 mg iodine , respectively . Urine and blood sample s were collected at the start of the study and monitored for 1 yr . In the 3 groups , mean serum T4 and median urinary iodine and serum TSH values were restored to reference limits , and these were maintained for about 1 yr . In each treatment group , about two thirds of the subjects displayed a reduction in goiter size , and the 400- and 800-mg doses were not more efficient than the 200-mg dose to accomplish normalization of thyroid hormone values . A temporary rise in TSH was noted 1 week after iodine administration in 1 , 3 , and 10 subjects , respectively , and 1 , 0 , and 3 subjects showed biochemical signs of thyrotoxicosis during the year after treatment with the 3 different doses . The data indicate that oral administration of 200 mg iodine is effective and acceptable for treating iodine deficiency in adults for 1 yr . Because of the risks of side-effects and the shortage of medical re sources , higher doses are not recommended
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 .