Iodine deficiency in Turkey

Yordam N., Ozon A., Alikasifoglu A., Ozgen A., Ceren N., Zafer Y., ...More

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS, vol.158, no.6, pp.501-505, 1999 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 158 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 1999
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s004310051130
  • Journal Name: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.501-505
  • Keywords: iodine deficiency, goitre, thyroid volume, IODIZED OIL, DISORDERS
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Turkey is an iodine deficiency area. The overall goitre prevalence is thought to be 30%, and most epidemiological studies give figures compatible with mild to moderate iodine deficiency. However, it is suspected that there are regions where iodine deficiency might be more severe than previously known. In this study the goitre prevalence and iodine status in a mountain village in Central Anatolia were investigated and the results compared to those of an urban area with mild iodine deficiency. Parameters of iodine status in the mountainous region showed severe iodine deficiency comparable to that in Central Africa. It seems that there are regions in Turkey where current programmes of salt iodization will be inadequate to correct the problem of iodine deficiency.