[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.