Age, sex, religion and caste specific goitre prevalence among school children in Berhampore sadar sub-division of Murshidabad District, West Bengal

Objectives: The objective of the present study is to find out the prevalence of endemic goitre among school children of Berhampore sadar sub-division of Murshidabad district. Attempt has also been made to find out the interaction of host factors, viz, age, sex, caste, religion in influencing goitre prevalence among school children during post-salt iodization phase. Background: In post salt iodization phase, endemic goitre was found prevalent all over the India including West Bengal. Prevalence of goitre has been reported in many districts except Murshidabad. Present study is thus undertaken in Murshidabad district. Method: A total of 1566 school children (6-12 yr) were clinically examined for goitre from five C.D.Blocks of the studied region. Age, sex, religion and caste specific goitre prevalence was reported. Body height and body weight is also recorded to observe the growth pattern of the studied school children. Result: Overall result showed that mild degree of goitre endemicity (17.4%) was found. Girls (18.9%) were more affected than boys (15.7%). Goitre was most prevalent in Hindus (19.6%) than Muslim (16.0%) communities. Among the Hindus, general caste (20.4%) students suffered more than scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (18.6%). Conclusion: Present study indicates that goitre is still persist in the region. Result showed that girls were more affected than boys. It may be due to increase physiological demand in females at puberty. Result also showed that goitre was most prevalent in Hindus than Muslim communities and among the Hindus, general caste students suffered more than scheduled caste & scheduled tribe. It might be due to their different environmental adaptability and different dietary habit. Age specific data showed that in initial stage (6 yr) growth pattern is comparably better in boys than girls. The growth rate is high among the girls than boys at the age of 9 yr to 12 yr. It may be due to the high demand of steroid hormones among the girls before menarche

Effect of radish (<i style="">Raphanus sativus </i>Linn.) on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats

653-661Cruciferous plants viz. cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, radish, mustard etc. that contain goitrogenic/antithyroid substances, constitute a portion of regular human diet. The effect of chronic feeding of fresh and cooked radish, R. sativus under varying state of iodine intake on morphological and functional status of thyroid in albino rats was evaluated by thyroid gland morphology and histology, thyroid peroxidase activity, serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyrotropin levels. The consumption pattern of iodine and goitrogens of cyanogenic origin was evaluated by measuring urinary iodine and thiocyanate levels respectively. After chronic radish feeding, increased weight of thyroid gland, decreased thyroid peroxidase activity, reduced thyroid hormone profiles and elevated level of thyrotropin were observed resembling a relative state of hypoactive thyroid gland in comparison to control even after supplementation of adequate iodine

Effect of bamboo shoot, <i>Bambusa arundinacea </i>(Retz.) Willd. on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats

781-786Young shoots or sprouts of common bamboos are used as food in third world countries. Evidences suggest the presence of cyanogenic glucoside like anti-thyroidal substance in bamboo shoots (BS) but effect of prolonged BS consumption on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine nutriture remains unexplored. The study was undertaken to evaluate goitrogenic content, in vitro anti thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity and in vivo anti thyroid potential of BS with and without extraiodide. Fresh BS contains high cyanogenic glucoside (551 mg/kg), followed by thiocyanate (24mg/kg) and glucosinolate (9.57mg/kg). In vitro inhibition in TPO activity was found with raw, raw boiled and cooked extracts. Inhibition constant (IC50) and PTU equivalence of fresh BS were 27.5±0.77 pg and 3.27 respectively. Extra iodide in the incubation media reduced TPO inhibition induced by BS but could not cancel it. Thyroid weight, TPO activity and total serum thyroid hormone levels of BS fed animals for 45 and 90 days respectively were determined and compared with controls. Significant increase in thyroid weight as well as higher excretion of thiocyanate and iodine along with marked decrease in thyroid peroxidase activity, T4 and T3 levels were observed in BS fed group. Chronic BS consumption gradually developed a state of hypothyroidism. Extra iodide had reduced the anti-thyroidal effect of BS to an extent but could not cancel it because of excessive cyanogenic glucoside, glucosinolate and thiocyanate present in it

Effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta crentz) on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a widely used common vegetable of Indian origin contains dietary goitrogens. Goitrogenic content, in vitro anti-thyroidal activity and in vivo antithyroid potential of fresh and cooked cassava of Indian origin in albino rats with and without iodine supplementation were evaluated in this study. In vitro inhibition of thyroid peroxidase (TPO )activity was found with fresh and cooked cassava extract but the presence of extra iodide in the incubation media had shown reduction in such inhibition to an extent. Inhibition constant (IC50) and PTU equivalence of fresh cassava were 42.5 ± 1.35µg and 2.21 respectively. After consumption, cyanogenic constituents in cassava are metabolized to thiocyanate and iodine-retaining capacity seems to be dependent on thiocyanate exposure. In cassava fed rats, the urinary iodine concentration resembled the state of adequate iodine nutriture but thyroid gland fails to utilize available iodine. Increased thyroid weight (P < 0.001), inhibited thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity and reduced thyroid hormone profiles (P < 0.001) were noted in fresh and cooked cassava fed rats, resembling a relative state of morphological as well as biochemical hypothyroidism even in presence of adequate iodine. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 3(3) 2006: 87-9

Environmental factors other than iodine deficiency in the pathogenesis of endemic goiter in the basin of river Ganga and Bay of Bengal, India

Background: In iodine-replete basin of the river Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, we studied iodine nutritional status of school children by goiter prevalence and their urinary iodine (UI), iodine content in edible salt, and the bioavailability of iodine through water and its contribution to iodine nutrition. We also studied consumption pattern of common goitrogenic plants by measuring urinary thiocyanate (USCN), hardness of water (calcium and magnesium salt content) and assessed the effect of concomitant exposure of those environmental factors in goitrogenesis. Methods: 4603 children aged 6-12 years were examined for goiter by palpation, 520 urine samples were analyzed for UI and USCN; iodine content was estimated in 455 household salt and 130 water samples tested both for iodine and hardness. Results: The total goiter rate was 35.9%, median UI was 231 ΅g/l, mean USCN was 0.857 ± 0.48 mg/dl, iodine content in water was 44.7 ± 4.1 ΅g/l, 66.4% of salt samples contained iodine (15 ppm), and water was found to be hard. UI was correlated with both the drinking water iodine content and USCN and the degree of hardness in drinking water was associated with goiter prevalence. Conclusions: The studied population has endemic goitre despite iodine sufficiency. The concomitant exposure of a number of environmental factors, i.e., thiocyanate of cyanogenic plant food, hardness of drinking water, and excess iodine from environmental sources other than iodide salt are likely responsible for the causation and persistence of endemic goiter in the region