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 .
Randomized clinical trial comparing different iodine interventions in school children.
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this trial was to compare three different iodine interventions . DESIGN School children aged 8 - 10 years were r and omized into one of three groups : group A was provided with iodized salt by research ers with an iodine concentration of 25 ppm ; group B purchased iodized salt from the market ; and group C was similar to group B with the exception that they were given iodized oil capsules containing 400 mg iodine at the beginning of the study . Salt iodine content was measured bimonthly for 18 months and indicators of iodine deficiency were measured at baseline and 6 , 9 , 12 and 18 months after r and omization . RESULTS The prevalence of abnormal thyroid volumes , based on the World Health Organization ( WHO ) body surface area reference > 97th percentile , was 18 % at baseline and declined to less than 5 % by 12 months in groups A and C , and to 9 % after 18 months in group B. Results for goitre by palpation were similar . The median urinary iodine was 94 microg l(-1 ) at baseline and increased in all groups to > 200 microg l(-1 ) at the 6-month follow-up . CONCLUSIONS In this population of school children with initially a low to moderate level of iodine deficiency , the group receiving salt with 25 ppm ( group A ) was not iodine deficient on all indicators after 18 months of study . When the iodine content of the salt varied , such as in group B , by 18 months thyroid sizes had not yet achieved normal status
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 .