Low prevalence of thyroid antibodies in a Somalian population.

Prevalence rates of serum thyroid antibodies in a Somalian population have been compared with those of an Italian population. Thyroid antibodies have been evaluated by passive haemagglutination (microsomal antigen) and by 125I-thyroglobulin binding. In the Italian survey 13% of all subjects were positive for thyroid antibodies. A significantly lower prevalence of thyroid antibody positive subjects was found in the Somalian group (2,07%, P less than 0.001). It is suggested that the observed difference between Somalian and Italian populations could reflect nutritional or genetic causes which influence the antithyroid autoimmune response.