Goitre in Ceylon and Nigeria

Abstract

Endemic goitre is recognized as a compensatory enlargement of the thyroid gland that occurs whenever adverse environmental or metabolic factors hinder the formation of the thyroid hormone, When the iodine in water is low, the iodine content of crops and vegetables grown locally is likely to be low also. It is recognized that, with an inadequate iodine intake, other influences, such as diets with a high fat, high carbohydrate or low protein content, or extensive consumption of foods containing substances chemically related to thiocyanate or to thiourea, may have a goitrogenic action. The daily requirement of iodine by man is estimated to be about Isopg.