[Excess of thiocyanate and selenium deficiency: cofactors in the etiology of endemic goiter and cretinism in North Zaire].

Abstract

Endemic goitre is accompanied by a spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). From work undertaken by CEMUBAC in Ubangui Zaïre, the role of thiocyanate overload is recalled while this work demonstrates for the first time in man an action of selenium supplementation (and thus deficiency) on thyroid function in iodine deficient areas. The extreme severity of the selenium deficiency may intervene either on the central and/or peripheral deiodination of thyroxine, or on the synthesis of the thyroid hormones. Together with thiocyanate overload, selenium deficiency may be responsible of the high frequency of myxedematous cretins in Zaïre.

• Authors: C H Thilly, B Contempre, J B Vanderpas
• Journal: Bulletin et memoires de l'Academie royale de medecine de Belgique (Bull Mem Acad R Med Belg) Vol. 145 Issue 11 Pg. 440-8; discussion 448-50 ( 1990) ISSN: 0377-8231 [Print] Belgium
• Vernacular Title: Surcharge en thiocyanate et carence en sélénium: des cofacteurs dans l'étiologie du goitre et du crétinisme endémiques au Nord-Zaïre.
• PMID: 2099229 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Thiocyanates
• Iodine
• Selenium

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Congenital Hypothyroidism (etiology, metabolism)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Diet
• Goiter, Endemic (etiology, metabolism)
• Humans
• Infant
• Iodine (deficiency, metabolism)
• Selenium (deficiency)
• Thiocyanates (metabolism)