Efficacy of low oral doses of iodized oil in the control of iodine deficiency in Zaire

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 326; no. 4; pp. 236 - 241
• Main Authors: Tonglet, R. (Centre Scientifique et Medical de l'Universite, Brussels, Belgium), Bourdoux, P, Minga, T, Ermans, A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 23.01.1992
• Subjects: ACEITES VEGETALES; administration & dosage; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; ADULTE; ADULTOS; blood; blood serum; BOCIO; CARENCE MINERALE; Child; Child, Preschool; COMPLEMENTATION; Confidence intervals; Congo (Democratic Republic); CONTROL DE ENFERMEDADES; CONTROLE DE MALADIES; DEFICIENCIA DE MINERALES; deficiency; Democratic Republic of the Congo; dietary mineral supplements; disease prevention; Drug dosages; drug therapy; ENRIQUECIMIENTO DE LOS ALIMENTOS; Female; food enrichment; goiter; Goiter, Endemic; Goiter, Endemic - drug therapy; GOITRE; Health risk assessment; HORMONAS PITUITARIAS; HORMONE HYPOPHYSAIRE; HUILE VEGETALE; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; IODE; Iodine; Iodine - deficiency; Iodine - urine; Iodized Oil; Iodized Oil - administration & dosage; longitudinal studies; Male; Medical research; MINERALES; MINERAUX; nutrient deficiencies; ORINA; plant fats and oils; Population density; SERUM SANGUIN; SUERO SANGUINEO; Thyroid gland; thyrotropin; Thyrotropin - blood; THYROXINE; Thyroxine - blood; TIROXINA; URINE; YODO; young adults; ZAIRE; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Zaire; Congo (Democratic Republic)
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199201233260405

Background. About one billion people worldwide are at risk for iodine deficiency. Despite existing programs of prophylaxis, the prevention of iodine deficiency is still a challenge throughout the developing world. We studied the efficacy of low doses of iodized oil in an area of severe iodine deficiency in Zaire. Methods. Seventy-five subjects with visible goiter were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of placebo or either 0.1 or 0.25 ml of iodized oil, corresponding to 0, 47, and 118 mg of iodine, respectively. The mean ages of the subjects in the three groups were 23, 22, and 22 years, respectively, and the ratios of males to females were 0.25, 0.32, and 0.19. Efficacy was assessed by evaluating goiter size and measuring urinary iodine and serum thyroid hormone concentrations for 12 months. Results. Goiter size decreased in most of the subjects who received either dose of iodized oil. Their urinary iodine concentrations were normal for six to nine months and their serum thyroxine and thyrotropin concentrations were nearly all normal throughout the study period. There were no side effects, even in subjects whose serum thyroxine concentrations had initially been low. In the placebo group, neither goiter size nor any of the biochemical values changed. Conclusions. The oral administration of a single small dose of iodized oil is capable of correcting iodine deficiency for about a year. This method of supplementation is likely to be more effective, efficient, and acceptable than the administration of either intramuscular or large oral doses of iodized oil