Med J Malaya, 1951;5.

Abstract

1. Observations have been quoted which mention the existence of goiter in remote inland areas of Malaya. 2. 39.5% of 618 Malays and 40.8% of 710 aborigines from inland areas were found on examination to have visible thyroid glands. A high incidence of thyroid enlargement was found in almost all areas where these observations were made, on a wide range of Geological Formations. 3. In the seaside populations studied, the low incidence of ‘visible’ thyroid glands (2/184) is typical of that of other ‘goiter free’ areas. 4. Iodine estimations have been carried out on seven water samples from rivers draining inland areas where thyroid data have been collected, and gave values of 0.2 to 0.6 parts of iodine per thousand million. The development of goiter is to be expected when the iodine content is so low. 5. High calcium content of waters cannot be important in causing goiter in Malaya. 6. The availability of dried seafoods is thought to be an important factor in goiter prevention in Malaya. Four dried marine foods contained 360 to 1,340 parts of iodine per thousand million.