THYROID VOLUMES AND IODINE SUPPLY OF 6 TO 17 YEARS OLD PUPILS - RESULTS 3 YEARS AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF INCREASED SALT IODIZATION

In Austria, a law stipulating that table salt should be iodized with 1 0 mg Kl/kg was introduced in 1963. Nevertheless, investigations carrie d out between 1982 and 1984 on iodine supply and goitre frequency reve aled that there was a general iodine deficiency of first to second deg ree according to WHO criteria. These results led to an increase in sal t iodization to 20 mg Kl/kg in 1990. The aim of the study was to deter mine iodine supply and thyroid volumes of schoolchildren 3 years there after. 734 children at primary and secondary schools were examined. Th e mean value of iodine excretion was 121 mu g/g Cr, corresponding to a n improvement in iodine intake. Compared to previous data, the corresp onding age groups showed lower mean thyroid volumes.