Goitrogens in the Environment

No less than 200 million members of the world’s human population have the thyroid enlargements known as goiters and associated disorders, resulting in a public health and socioeconomic problem of major proportions (1,2). It is clear that the greatest goitrogenic factor among the world’s population is iodine deficiency. Seventy-five percent of people with goiter live in less developed countries where iodine deficiency is prevalent. The role of iodine deficiency as an environmental determinant in the development of endemic goiter is firmly established. However, iodine deficiency does not always result in endemic goiter (3), and iodine supplementation does not always result in complete eradication and prevention of goiter (1,3–9). Even in the presence of extreme iodine deficiency there is an unequal geographic distribution of goiter.