Iodine prophylaxis in Poland

In 1991 the Polish Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders within the Polish Society of Endocrinology as an advisory body of the Ministry of Health has been created. In January 1997 the Minister of Health put in operation a mandatory model of household salt iodization, with 30 10 mg Kl/kg of salt (Szybinski, 1998). This meant that all kitchen salt was iodized, and noniodized salt was not available on the market. However, in food production and food processing, noniodized salt has to be, and is, used. The history of iodine prophylaxis in Poland is shown in Table 83.1 (Szybinski, 1998). 

Figure 90.4 loduria levels in schoolchildren before and after the introduction of obligatory iodine prophylaxis in Poland, loduria levels in the same population as in Figure 90.3. The middle point reflects the arithmetic mean, the frame expresses the standard error of mean, and the horizontal lines express standard deviation. Adapted from Zygmunt et al., (2001) with kind permission from Endokrynologia Polska.

Figure 90.3 The prevaience of goiter in schooichiidren before and after the introduction of obiigatory iodine prophyiaxis in Poland. The bars represent prevalence of golfer as assessed by ultrasound imaging in schoolchildren (aged 7-15 years) in central Poland 3 years before and 2 years after the introduction of oblig-afory iodine prophylaxis (by means of salf iodized af fhe level of 30 ppm). A marked improvement can be noted in both girls and boys. Adapted from Zygmunt et al., (2001) wifh kind permission from Endokrynologia Polska.

Nauman, J., 1990, Potassium iodide prophylaxis in Poland Review of far field experience. In "Iodine... 

Evidence of true achievement in the field of iodine prophylaxis is the fact that I thyroid uptake in a 24-h test among residents of Krakow (in the southern part of Poland) and its vicinity fell from 45.7% in 1992 to 27.9% in 2003 (Huszno et al., 2003). 

To summarize, it should be stated that the prophylaxis model in Poland based on iodization of household salt has brought expected results (Szybihski et al., 2001). However, in view of the existing threats, elements that may indicate iodine deficiency effects should be monitored. This is a problem not only for doctors and scientific societies, but also for all state bodies responsible for the health of the nation. 

K. Zukowska-Kowalsto at al. Thyroid diseases and iodine prophylaxis after Chernobyl accident in Wroclaw Region ( south-west part of Poland ). Polish J. Endocrinol. 42 311 ( 1991 ). 

Kinalska at al. The results of study of influence of radiological contamination and iodine prophylaxis after Chernobyl accident on the thyroid morphology and fiinction of the inhibitants of north -east region of Poland. Polish J. Endocrinol. 42 215 ( 1991 ). Szybifiski at al, Hie results of the epidemiological survey undertaken after Chernobyl accident in adult population of Craco-vian region. Polish J. Endocrinol. 42 263 ( 1991 ). 

THE INFLUENCE OF IODINE PROPHYLAXIS AFTER CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT ON THE THYROID MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION IN POZNAN REGION, POLAND... 

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