Page 367 - Primary Five Science

Vitamin A sources

8. Goitre

Iodine in the body is essential for normal cell metabolism in

the body and deficiency of iodine may cause goitre.

Goitre leads to enlarged thyroid glands, poor growth and de-

velopment of infants in childhood, cret-

inism and even mental retardation.

This disease is commonly found to occur

in places having iodine deficit soil. In

Uganda, sources are Iodized salt and

dairy products of animals for which io-

dized feeds are included. Other sources

are saltwater fish.

Food sources must be consumed regular-

ly to avoid goitre.