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The problem of endemic goitre in Ireland

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1926-1967)

Summary and Conclusions

The publications and other unpublished data obtained by a group of workers under the Medical Research Council of Ireland concerning endemic goitre in South Tipperary are reviewed.

The study of iodine concentrations in water were not in agreement with the iodine deficiency theory, but the iodine concentrations of soil from different areas were in general agreement with the theory.

It is concluded that deficiency of the intake of iodine in that area is the most important ætiological factor. This conclusion is based upon (1) the low iodine content of foods grown in the area compared with control non-goitrous areas; (2) the relatively low daily iodine intake in the total foods consumed by a group of 128 people (12–15 micrograms) in the goitre area as compared with that in an area free of goitre (177 micrograms); (3) prophylaxis and treatment with iodine were successful in a group of 700 school-children of the goitre area, the incidence of goitre having been reduced from 68 per cent. to 12 per cent. within three and one-half years.

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Authors
  1. D. K. O’Donovan
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Additional information

This Summary and Review was prepared from the reports of the research workers mentioned below, who carried out the investigations for the Medical Research Council of Ireland, working under the Council’s direction. It concerns an investigation into the causation and prevention of endemic, non-toxic goitre in Tipperary, South Riding, and it includes some observations from the literature. It has been compiled at the request of the Council.

The workers responsible were: Dr. James C. Shee; Dr. Ethelwyn Mason O’Shea; Miss Doreen A. Kilbride; Miss Eileen O’Donovan and Dr. Stephanie Whelan-Quillinan. Iodine analyses were done in the Department of Chemistry, University College, Cork, under Professor J. Reilly.

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O’Donovan, D.K. The problem of endemic goitre in Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 25, 161–171 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02955231

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