American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 23, 1085-1089, Copyright © 1970 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Ten Years of Goiter Prophylaxis in Croatia, Yugoslavia

¹ From the Institute of Public Health of Croatia, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

A goiter-prevention program was initiated in Yugoslavia in 1956, based on the iodization of salt in the proportion of 1:100,000. The results of the first 10-year follow-up are described, indicating that the iodization of salt was accompanied by a decrease of the occurrence of goiter among schoolchildren in most of the goitrous areas. The decrease was more prominent after the first 5 years of the salt-iodization scheme and has continued at a slower pace after the second quinquennium.

The decrease in the occurrence of goiter was mainly the result of a lower incidence of goiter among children who were born or were up to 3 years of age at the time the iodization of salt was introduced. The majority of schoolchildren who were goitrous at the time the iodization was introduced remained so throughout the schooling period.

It is concluded that the present goiterprevention scheme was primarily successful in reducing the development of goiter in newborn babies but has not provided full protection through the growth period.