Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:38:48.146Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The problem of goitre in Ceylon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K. Mahadeva  and
S. Senthe Shanmuganathan
K. Mahadeva
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Ceylon
S. Senthe Shanmuganathan
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Ceylon
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. A survey of the incidence of goitre in Ceylon was carried out in the years 1947–9 and goitre was found to be endemic in the south-west sector of the Wet Zone of Ceylon.

2. In response to a request by the Ceylon Government to the World Health Organization for advice, Dr Dagmar Wilson in 1950 confirmed our earlier findings and as a short-term policy recommended the provision of iodine as KI tablets to the stress groups in the Wet Zone. This was initiated in August 1951.

3. A second survey was carried out in 1963 in nine of the villages in the Wet Zone that had been studied previously.

4. Statistical analysis showed that the incidence had significantly increased amongst the females in all nine villages and amongst the males in two villages.

5. A survey of the incidence amongst mothers attending antenatal clinics confirmed the existence of a strip of country where goitre was endemic.

6. The critical level of iodine intake from drinking water below which goitre becomes endemic has been shown to be 10 μg/1.

7. The low iodine content of the water in the Wet Zone has been shown to be due to the persistent heavy rainfall, associated with high drainage into the ocean, by which the soil is leached.

8. The mean annual escape of water per square mile of a river basin (the yield factor) has been shown to be directly proportional to the intensity of endemic goitre in that basin.

9. The aetiological factors related to the problem of goitre are discussed. The prophylactic method failed as it was not sustained.

10. Iodization of kitchen salt is recommended for use by the general population. The amount of iodine added to the salt should not be great enough to produce any side-effects. Potassium iodate is suggested as the most suitable source of iodine for use in tropical regions with high humidity.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , May 1967 , pp. 341 - 352
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1967

References

Aceland, J. D. (1957). Biochem. J. 66, 177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ballou, M. M. (1894). Quoted by Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Bennett, J. W. (1843). Quoted by Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Davy, J. (1821). Quoted by Greenwald, I.. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Department of Census and Statistics (1962). Ceylon Year Book. Colombo: Government Press.Google Scholar
Economic Advisory Council (1939). Quoted by Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Greenwald, I. (1946). J. clin. Endocr. 6, 708.Google Scholar
Greenwald, I. (1950). Trans. Am. Goiter Ass. p. 369.Google Scholar
Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Gunasekara, D. B. (1958). Ceylon J. Sci. 9, 107.Google Scholar
Hirsch, A. (1885). Quoted by Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Holman, J. C. M. & McCartney, W. (1960). Monograph Ser. W.H.O. no. 44, p. 411.Google Scholar
Matovinovic, J. & Ramalingaswami, V. (1960). Monograph Ser. W.H.O. no. 44, p. 385.Google Scholar
Moormann, F. R. & Panabokke, C. R. (1961). Trop. Agric. 117, 1.Google Scholar
Nicholls, L. (1951). Tropical Nutrition and Dietetics, 3rd ed. London: Baillière, Tindall and Cox.Google Scholar
Perez, C., Scrimshaw, N. S. & Munoz, J. A. (1960). Monograph Ser. W.H.O. no. 44, p. 369.Google Scholar
Pridham, C. (1849). Quoted by Greenwald, I. (1953). Ceylon med. J. 2, 140.Google Scholar
Wilson, D. C. (1954). Br. J. Nutr. 8, 90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WorId Health Organization (1960). Monograph Ser. W.H.O. no. 44.Google Scholar