Low dose oral iodized oil for control of iodine deficiency in children

In areas where iodized salt is not available, oral iodized oil is often use d to correct I deficiency despite a lack of consensus on the optimal dose o r duration of effect, particularly in children, a main target group. Annual doses ranging from 400 to 1000 mg have been advocated for school-age child ren. Because lower doses of iodized oil have been shown to be effective in treating I deficiency in adults, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low dose of oral iodized oil in goitrous I-deficie nt children. Goitrous children (n 104, mean age 8.4 years, range 6-12 years , 47 % female) received 0.4 ml oral iodized poppyseed-oil containing 200 mg I. Baseline measurements included I in spot urines (UI), serum thyroxine ( T-4), whole blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid-gland volu me using ultrasound. At 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 50 weeks post-intervention, UI , TSH and T-4 were measured. At 10, 15, 30 and 50 weeks, thyroid-gland volu me was remeasured. At 30 and 50 weeks the mean percentage change in thyroid volume from baseline was -35 % and -41 % respectively. The goitre rate fel l to 38 % at 30 weeks and 17 % at 50 weeks. No child showed signs of I-indu ced hypo- or hyperthyroidism. UI remained significantly increased above bas eline for the entire year (P < 0.001); the median UI at 50 weeks was 97 mu g/l, at the World Health Organization cut-off value (100 mu g/l) for I-defi ciency disorders risk. In this group of goitrous children, an oral dose of 200 mg I as Lipiodol (Guerbert, Roissy CdG Cedex, France) was safe and effe ctive for treating goitre and maintaining normal I status for at least 1 ye ar.