[Dietary iodine deficiency in East Germany]

The human organism depends on exogenic supply of iodine. The alimentary supply with iodine is not sufficient in the GDR. The deficiency leads to an endemic struma. The causes are among others as follows: small geochemical offer of iodine with low iodine content of vegetable and animal products and of drinking water as well as moderate consume of fish. The most favourable possibility as to cost for the abolition of the iodine deficiency is the use of a stable iodized kitchen salt (potassium iodate instead of potassium iodide). The gradual introduction of such a salt is started. Also after the improvement of the iodine supply representatives of human medicine, veterinary medicine and agriculture should in interdisciplinary cooperation devote themselves to the problems of a controlled optimum supply of iodine and the fight against endemic struma.