Congenital Defects of the Central Nervous System Associated with Hyperendemic Goiter in a Neolithic Highland Society of Western New Guinea: III. Serum and Urinary Iodine Levels in Goitrous and Adjacent Non-goitrous Populations

Document Type

Article

Authors

R M. Garruto, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
D C. Gajdusek, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
J ten Brink, Bosscheweg 29, Vught, N. B.m The Netherlands

Abstract

Protein-bound iodine (PBI) and urinary iodine excretion levels in subjects residing in several goiter areas in New Guinea demonstrate a severe iodine deficiency in both goitrous and non-goitrous individuals. Such deficiency also prevails in some goiter-free adjacent populations. In the large goiter belt of the Central Highlands of Western New Guinea, starting east of the Wissel Lakes, there is a goiter-surrounded enclave at Ilaga wherein the population is goiter-free and without iodine deficiency. In the population of Bellona Island in the Solomons, in which there are cases of familial goiter and cretinism, there is no iodine deficiency. Many New Guinea populations present no evidence of hypothyroidism or goiter, although they are on deficient iodine intakes as low as 20 /ag/day.

Recommended Citation

Garruto, R M.; Gajdusek, D C.; and ten Brink, J (1974) "Congenital Defects of the Central Nervous System Associated with Hyperendemic Goiter in a Neolithic Highland Society of Western New Guinea: III. Serum and Urinary Iodine Levels in Goitrous and Adjacent Non-goitrous Populations," Human Biology: Vol. 46: Iss. 2, Article 8.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol46/iss2/8