Low environmental selenium availability as an additional determinant for goiter in east Java, Indonesia?

Iodine deficiency, which is most visibly indicated by goiter, is highly pre valent in Indonesia. Since 1994, Indonesia has a decree that all salt used for human, livestock, and industry must be iodized. However, despite the in creased distribution of iodized salt, pockets with significantly higher pre valence of goiter still remain. This situation may be consequence of seleni um (Se) deficiency. This study aimed to assess the Se level in the environm ent of goiter prevalent areas. Five hundred eleven school children particip ated in this study. Goiter was measured using both ultrasound and palpation . Ninety-nine eggs were collected from free-living chicken in 11 villages, and the Se contents of egg yolk and egg white were determined by neutron ac tivation analysis. In the villages studied, Se concentration in egg yolk ra nged from 0.15 to 1.52 mu g/g and in egg white from 0.18 to 2.97 mu g/g. Th e prevalence of goiter measured by palpation ranged from 18.4% to 70% and b y ultrasound from 0% to 100%. Because of the inconsistency of goiter rate m easured by palpation and ultrasonography, the question remains whether low availability of Se in the environment might be an additional contributing f actor for goiter.