[Current data on iodide excretion in the Vienna region]

Iodine excretion was investigated in 281 patients attending various medical outpatient departments in Vienna. In 64 consecutive patients determination of sodium excretion was performed additionally. 50% of the patients showed an iodine excretion of less than 92 micrograms/24 h, indicative of an insufficient supply of iodine. 25% had an iodine excretion of even less than 56 micrograms/24 h, which pointed to severe iodine deficiency. Iodine and sodium excretion were closely correlated, which indicates that table salt represents the most important source of iodine. Thus, the great deviation of iodine excretion among the population of one region demonstrated in this study is most likely due to varying salt intake. Iodine excretion did not differ in patients with simple goitre and controls, but was higher in polymorbid patients than in healthy persons. The apparent insufficiency of the iodine supply in the Vienna area favours an initiative for the legal augmentation of the iodine content of table salt.