Endemic goitre, nutrition, and landholding in Bangladesh.

Endemic goitre in adult females, cretinism, and anthropometry in children were examined in a goitrous area of Bangladesh. An area survey showed total goitre varying from 62.0 to 93.0%, visible goitre from 9.0 to 54.8% between areas. A village study examining thyroid size in 538 adult females and anthropometry in 116 children showed goitre prevalences varying significantly (p less than 0.001) but unpredictably with household landholding size; underweight and wasting varied inversely and significantly (p less than 0.01 and 0.05 respectively) with the same socioeconomic indicator. By household, there was no relationship between anthropometry in children and thyroid enlargement in the mother. Hormone analyses showed depressed serum T4, but no raised TSH. Only one deaf-mute cretin was found in the area. It is speculated that variation in goitre prevalence in this moderately severe endemic primarily reflects qualitative and quantitative changes in diet, as a function of the socioeconomic status of the household.