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 .
Iodine supplementation: comparison of oral or intramuscular iodized oil with oral potassium iodide. A controlled trial in Zaire.
A community-based controlled trial of iodine supplementation comparing oral or intramuscular iodized oil with oral potassium iodide has been carried out in 23 severely iodine-deficient villages in Eastern Zaire . The overall goitre prevalence in the population ( n = 5999 ) was 61 % and mean urinary iodine excretion in sample of 57 women 10.9 ( SD 6.8 ) micrograms/g creatinine . All adults in three groups of four villages were given single doses of potassium iodide of 0.5 g , 1.0 g , and 2.0 g respectively . A fourth group was given oral iodized oil ( 2 ml ) and a fifth placebo-treated . A further three villages were given intramuscular iodized oil ( 2 ml ) . The effectiveness of supplementation was assessed by measurements of bloodspot thyroxine ( T4 ) concentration in women of reproductive age in the villages . The effects of iodide were small and inconsistent . Eight months after supplementation with oral iodized oil the distribution of T4 concentrations was similar to that seen with intramuscular oil . We conclude that oral iodized oil is an effective alternative to injected oil and would be feasible for iodine supplementation in remote areas with untrained people
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 .