Influence of nutritional state on the disposal of orally and intramuscularly administered iodized oil to iodine repleted older children and adult women.

Iodinated oil (Ethiodol, 1 or 2 ml) was administered po or by im administration to adult women and older children in rural highland Ecuador who were either well nourished or malnourished to determine the effect of nutritional status on the disposal rate of iodine. These subjects resides in a region previously severely deficient in iodine, but this had been corrected in these subjects by prior administration of iodinated oil or by use of iodized salt or both. Malnutrition as determined by the conventional standards of height for age was associated with a significantly shortened retention time of the administered iodine, whether given po or im. The half life of retention was approximately half in the malourished of that in the well nourished. If these findings can be extrapolated to chronically iodine deficient subjects, then malnourished populations in need of iodine supplementation should either receive higher dosages than those conventionally employed or more frequent dosage.

Effects on school children of prophylaxis of mothers with iodized oil in an area of iodine deficiency.

The results of tests of intellectual and psychomotor performance and school performance in a group of school children from a rural impoverished and iodine deficient Andean community whose mothers received injections of iodinated oil prior to the end of the first trimester of pregnancy have been compared with results in children from a neighboring comparable community whose mothers had received no iodinated oil. Subjects between ages 8 and 15 were studied. Statistically significant differences were not observed between the two groups in tests of intellectual function, but children of mothers who had received iodinated oil performed better on tests of psychomotor maturation. The group whose mothers had received oil performed distinctly better when assessed in terms of school drop-out rates, grades achieved, grades repeated, and in overall performance as judged by teacher notes in school records. Performance of both groups on standard tests of intellectual and psychomotor function was lower than standard scores. This may be a result of social and cultural deprivation, the general malnutrition prevailing in the region or other unidentified factors. The improved scoring and school performance exhibited by the children of mothers who received iodinated oil underlines the importance of prophylaxis with iodine in iodine deficient regions as one important contributor to community development.

Neurological signs in congenital iodine-deficiency disorder (endemic cretinism).

Neurological examinations were made of 67 children and adults with congenital iodine-deficiency disorder (endemic cretinism) in four rural villages in highland Ecuador. There was a distinct and readily identifiable pattern of neurological deficits. These included, to varying degrees: deaf-mutism or lesser degrees of bilateral hearing-loss or dysarthria; spasticity, particularly involving the proximal lower extremities; mental deficiency of a characteristic type; and rigidity and bradykinesia. Not all of these elements were found in all cases. Less common features were strabismus, kyphoscoliosis and frontal-lobe signs. There were exceptional cases with hypotonia. In contrast, cerebellar function was largely spared, as were functions of emotion and attention, vegetative and autonomic functions, social interaction, and probably memory, except in the most severely involved.

Prophylaxis and treatment of endemic goiter with iodized oil in rural Ecuador and Peru.

PIP: Endemic goiter is a health problem in many areas of the world; in some areas the disease is so severe that cretinism and other defects are found. In many areas geographic, economic, and other factors prevent the use of iodized salt as a preventive measure. Field studies were begun in 1966 to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of parenteral administration of iodized oil in goiter prevention. Studies were carried out in Ecuador and Peru. In Ecuador 2 villages were chosen in which the prevalence of goiter was about 60%; in Peru 3 villages were chosen where incidence was about 50%. Prevalence of goiter decreased for 20 months during the study but then began to rise again with the maximum reduction seen up to age 18 and minimal reduction after 40 years of age. The control groups in the study experienced only slight decreases in rate of incidence. Cretinism has not yet appeared among the progeny of the population injected with iodized oil but several instances have appeared in control groups. The use of iodized oil as a public health procedure for the prevention of endemic goiter and its associated defects is an acceptable measure in regions where salt iodization cannot be done.^ieng