Urinary iodine excretion in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia
Mafauzy, M.; Mohamad, W.B.; Anum, M.Y.; Musalmah, M.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 26(1): 138-142
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 8525401 Document Number: 451866
2034 subjects 15 years old and above from different parts of the State of Kelantan, Malaysia, were studied to investigate goitre size and urinary iodine excretion. The State was divided into 2 areas: area 1 consisting of localities in the districts near the coast and area 2 consisting of localities in the inland districts. There were 1050 subjects in area 1 and 984 subjects in area 2. The mean age (+or-s.e.) of subjects in areas 1 and 2 were 38.2+or-0.5 and 37.1+or-0.5 years, respectively. The prevalence of goitre was 31.4 in area 1 and 45.0% in area 2; the difference was significant (P<0.05). However, the prevalence of large and visible goitres (grades II and III) was only 2.0 in area 1 and 3.3% in area 2; the difference was not significant. The mean (+or-s.e.) urinary iodine excretion in areas 1 and 2 was 57.1+or-2.1 and 56.8+or-2.1 micro g I/g Cr, respectively. The values were below those recommended by WHO. There was no significant difference in urinary iodine excretion between those with and without goitres in both areas and also between the grades of goitres. There were significantly more women with goitres than men in both areas but there was no significant difference in urinary iodine excretion between the 2 sexes. Thus based on urinary iodine excretion, the iodine intake of the population in this area was suboptimal and this was associated with a high prevalence of goitre.