Dietary goitrogens and prevalence of goitre in Sri Lanka

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between dietary goitrogens and the prevalence of goiter. METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional study on the prevalence of goitre was conducted involving all areas of the country, except North and Batticaloa district from December 2006 to June 2007. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used on all participants as a screening tool. Consumption of 6 possible dietary goitrogens was assessed. Sufficient frequency of consumption was taken as consumption >3 times a week. Pearson's chi-square test was used to analyze the significance of dietary goitrogens to the prevalence of goiter. RESULTS: 5200 participants were assessed (n=5200) island wide and 426 were detected with goitre. Mean age for occurrence of goitre was 36.3(+_17.3) years. Frequency of consumption of these food items was low, none being higher than 10% among the 5200 participants. Consumption of each goitrogen was as follows; Cabbage "[2.9%], Lima beans [9.9%], Kurakkan (Millet) [4%], Turnip [2.9%], Manioc(Cassava) [2.2%] and Peanuts [5.5%]. All six dietary goitrogens showed no significant association with the occurrence of goitre (p<0 05).CONCLUSION:Dietary goitrogens do not appear to have an association with prevalence of goitre in this cohort. As this cohort is a representative sample, dietary goitrogens are unlikely to be associated with prevalence of goitre in Sri Lanka.