Co-existing environmental iodine deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders show a poor relationship : what are we missing?

The iodine deficiency disorders [IDD] are a major, but preventable, global cause of morbidity and mortality. Iodine deficiency is the single most important cause of preventable mental health problems [cretinism] on a world-wide scale. The role that environmental deficiency plays, however, is not completely clear. In Xinjiang Province, China, we examined thyroid metabolism in parallel with environmental iodine levels. Despite the abolition of clinically apparent goitre by a recent government iodination programme the historical trend could still be distinguished [low- IDD district meant thyroid volume 0.53 mls; mid-IDD 0.88; high-IDD 1.03].