Goitre Reconnoitre points to iodine deficiency in Aussie schoolkids
Embargoed until 12.00 Noon Sunday 16 February 2003
Victorian researchers are supporting the establishment of a national study of iodine nutrition following a recent study that revealed iodine deficiencies in Melbourne schoolchildren.
The findings of the Melbourne study complement other data that show iodine deficiencies in schoolchildren in Sydney and Tasmania.
Research conducted by Dr Ciara M McDonnell, Dr Mark Harris and Dr Margaret R Zacharin is reported in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.
They studied 607 children aged 11-18 years through thyroid gland palpation and urine samples in August 2001.
Of those sampled, 76 per cent had abnormal urinary iodine values, with 27 per cent having values in the moderate to severe deficiency range. Girls had lower urinary iodine values overall.
Dr Zacharin says that Australia has been considered to be an iodine-replete country, with only isolated pockets of mild to moderate iodine deficiency. Evidence from recent studies suggests that this assumption may no longer be valid.
"It is well known that if physiological iodine requirements are not met, abnormalities of thyroid development and function - such as goitre - may occur.
"Our research certainly points to more widespread iodine deficiency throughout the Australian community. In fact it was hypothesised following studies in Sydney that iodine deficiency in Australia may be increasing and causing goitre in urban populations.
"Based on the growing evidence, a national iodine survey is now underway to gain a more accurate picture of iodine deficiency and the risk of goitre in the Australian community," Dr Zacharin says.
Goitre is a swelling of the neck due to enlargement of the thyroid gland, usually due to a lack of dietary iodine. Iodine deficiency can cause neurological deficits, with learning disability and reduced hearing acuity in children.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
CONTACT: Dr Margaret R Zacharin, P: 03 9345 5951 E: zacharim@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
M: 0418 548 818 Judith Tokley, AMA, 0408 824 306