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 .
Infant survival is improved by oral iodine supplementation.
Although reports suggest that infant mortality is increased during iodine deficiency , the effect of iodine supplementation on infant mortality is unknown . A double-masked , r and omized , placebo-controlled , clinical trial of oral iodized oil was conducted in Subang , West Java , Indonesia to evaluate the effect of iodine supplementation on infant mortality . Infants were allocated to receive placebo or oral iodized oil ( 100 mg ) at about 6 wk of age and were followed to 6 mo of age . Six hundred seventeen infants were enrolled in the study .  Infant survival was apparently improved , as indicated by a 72 % reduction in the risk of death during the first 2 mo of follow-up ( P < 0.05 ) and a delay in the mean time to death among infants who died in the iodized oil group compared with infants who died in the placebo group ( 48 days vs. 17.5 d , P = 0.06 ) . Other infant characteristics associated with reduced risk of death included weight-for-age at base line , consumption of solid foods , female gender and recent history of maternal iodine supplementation . Oral iodized oil supplementation had a stronger effect on the mortality of males compared with females . This study suggests that oral iodized oil supplementation of infants may reduce  infant mortality in population s at risk for iodine deficiency
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 .