Original scientific paper
The Story of The Croatian Village of Rude after Fifty Years of Compulsory Salt Iodination in Croatia
Tomislav Jukić
Nina Dabelić
Sunčica Andreja Rogan
Dunja Nõthig-Hus
Ljerka Lukinac
Mate Ljubičić
Zvonko Kusić
Abstract
The village of Rude is situated near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia in the last Alpine valley on Balkan. In the past, the
village was well-known area of severe iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). In 1952’, distinguished Croatian endocrinologist
Professor Josip Matovinovi} carried out detailed village survey. Goiter prevalence in school-age children was 85.0%
(with 2.3% of cretins in the village). In 1953, the first regulation on compulsory salt iodination with 10 mg of KI/kg of
salt was established in former Yugoslavia. Ten years later a dramatic decrease in goiter prevalence was recorded in all
endangered areas of the country and no new cretins appeared. However, at the beginning of 1990’ mild to moderate iodine
deficiency still persisted in Croatia. In 1991, the village of Rude survey demonstrated goiter prevalence in school-
-age children of 35.0% and median of urinary iodine excretion (UIE) of 7.4 mg/dL. In 1996, the new obligatory regulation
with 25 mg of KI/kg of salt was established in Croatia. The study aim was to monitor IDD status in the village after the
new law on compulsory salt iodination. Measurements of UIE and thyroid volumes (Tvol) by ultrasound were performed
in 7–11-y-old schoolchildren living in the village of Rude. Medians of UIE and body surface area (BSA)-adjusted Tvol in
boys and girls were calculated. The study included 84 children in 1997, 132 in 2000, 72 in 2002, 85 in 2003 and 46 in
2004 for UIE measurement. Thyroid volumes were measured in 1999 (43 boys and 26 girls) and in 2005 (22 boys and 26
girls). Data were compared with the new WHO/ICCIDD reference values. Medians of UIE in schoolchildren from the village
of Rude demonstrated rising values in mg/dL: 11.4 in 1997, 14.3 in 2000, 17.3 in 2002, 15.4 in 2003 and 19.0 in
2004. Significant decrease in BSA-adjusted Tvol was recorded from 1999–2005 in boys and girls from the village of
Rude and in 2005 Tvol were within the normal range according to the new international reference values for Tvol in iodine-
sufficient schoolchildren. As a result of increased iodine prophylaxis, IDD no longer exist in Croatia. Monitoring of
IDD status in the village of Rude after new law on compulsory salt iodination in Croatia demonstrated rising medians of
UIE together with significant reduction of Tvol. In 2005, Tvol in schoolchildren from the village of Rude were within the
normal range according to the new international reference values for Tvol in iodine-sufficient schoolchildren.
Keywords
iodine deficiency; goiter; salt iodination; urinary iodine excretion; thyroid volume; schoolchildren; the village of Rude
Hrčak ID:
34312
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2008.
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