The effect of varying doses of oral iodized oil in the prophylaxis of endemic goitre in elementary schools children.

The effect of oral iodine supplementation on total goitre rate (%TGR) and urinary iodine excretion among school children 4 to 16 years of age was studied. In the first group (n = 57) 200mg oral iodized oil reduced %TGR from 31.6% to 17.5% and 33.3% to 24.6% in males and females respectively, while in the second group (n = 53), 400mg iodine reduced the %TGR from 34.0% to 20.8% in males and 35.9% to 24.5% in females after 13 months of intervention. This gave a relative indication that the 200mg is as effective as the 400mg in goitre reduction. In subsequent tests, the maximum urinary iodine excretion was obtained from the groups which received two doses of iodized oil 24 hours after the intervention. A significant (p = 0.003) greater increase in urinary iodine excretion was noted at 24 hours among both male and female children administered 400mg than among those who received 200mg. Measurements after 24 hours showed no significant difference between urinary iodine excretion of the two dose groups. These results suggest that: (i) 200mg is likely equally effective as 400mg for iodine deficiency disorders control and prevention among children and (ii) iodine could be administered annually rather than biannually.