Abstract

In 12 malnourished Senegalese children iodine intake and excretion were measured on admission for 4 consecutive days. All subjects were in negative iodine balance, averaging -20·5 μg iodine/day. One month later, after nutritional rehabilitation, 7 children resubmitted to comparative balance study showed a strongly positive balance of +19·3 μg iodine/day.

Protein-calorie malnutrition is characterized by a continuous impoverishment of the thyroid's iodine content, while clinical recovery is accompanied by a progressive restoration.