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Iodine, milk, and the elimination of endemic goitre in Britain: the story of an accidental public health triumph

Iodine, milk, and the elimination of endemic goitre in Britain: the story of an accidental public health triumph
Iodine, milk, and the elimination of endemic goitre in Britain: the story of an accidental public health triumph

OBJECTIVE: To determine how iodine deficiency and endemic goitre disappeared in Britain.

DESIGN: Review of surveys of endemic goitre and iodine nutrition.

MAIN RESULTS: Endemic goitre was widespread in Britain but has declined, most notably since the 1960's. Its disappearance was probably due to changes in farming practice, especially iodine supplementation in dairy herds which has resulted in iodine contamination of milk and dairy produce.

CONCLUSIONS: Although iodization of dairy herds offers an indirect method of counteracting iodine deficiency, it is haphazard and there should be careful and continuous monitoring of iodine intakes in the population.

Animal Feed, Animals, Cattle, Child, Female, Food, Fortified, Goiter, Endemic/epidemiology, Humans, Iodine/administration & dosage, Male, Milk/chemistry, Public Health, Thyrotoxicosis/etiology, United Kingdom/epidemiology
0143-005X
391-3
Phillips, D I
a6ce8938-d887-4f8e-be92-ac1065460c0a
Phillips, D I
a6ce8938-d887-4f8e-be92-ac1065460c0a

Phillips, D I (1997) Iodine, milk, and the elimination of endemic goitre in Britain: the story of an accidental public health triumph. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 51 (4), 391-3. (doi:10.1136/jech.51.4.391).

Record type: Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine how iodine deficiency and endemic goitre disappeared in Britain.

DESIGN: Review of surveys of endemic goitre and iodine nutrition.

MAIN RESULTS: Endemic goitre was widespread in Britain but has declined, most notably since the 1960's. Its disappearance was probably due to changes in farming practice, especially iodine supplementation in dairy herds which has resulted in iodine contamination of milk and dairy produce.

CONCLUSIONS: Although iodization of dairy herds offers an indirect method of counteracting iodine deficiency, it is haphazard and there should be careful and continuous monitoring of iodine intakes in the population.

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More information

Published date: 15 August 1997
Keywords: Animal Feed, Animals, Cattle, Child, Female, Food, Fortified, Goiter, Endemic/epidemiology, Humans, Iodine/administration & dosage, Male, Milk/chemistry, Public Health, Thyrotoxicosis/etiology, United Kingdom/epidemiology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 480381
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/480381
ISSN: 0143-005X
PURE UUID: d3582d51-27b7-4960-b675-4f1ab859b5c3

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Date deposited: 01 Aug 2023 19:18
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 00:46

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Author: D I Phillips

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