This article is very misleading. The title itself leads to suggest that
ingestion of local salt causes thyroid incidence. I wish there would be more
intelligent and responsible journalism by TOI by not publishing what they do
not understand.
The reasons are very simple. Thyroid incidence is due to deficiency in intake
of Iodine, which in turn depends on what you eat, and the iodine content of the
soil on which you live and get your food from.
If you are a vegetarian, the iodine contents of the vegetable depends on the
soil contents. So too the meats, sheep, chicken, etc. because they feed on the
plants & grain grown in that soil. Fish is high in Iodine content specially the
head of the fish where the fish thyroid is. This is precisely why fish eaters
have low incident of thyroid disorders than pure vegetarians. The small fish
which can be eaten along with the head is the best for this purpose.
Secondly, the Study is based on the thyroid cases that have attended GMC, and
to accuse ‘Local Salt’ from Goa’s salt pans for the incidence is ‘Ignoratio
elenchi’. The incidence of Thyroid disorders of iodine deficiency in coastal
regions is very much less compared to inland regions where fish is unavailable.
The patients attending GMC clinics are a majority of migrants who do not come
from coastal states. The number of incidents has no relevance if the ratio to
population is not considered. Population has increased so too proportionately
cases will increase. No iodine content of the soil, plants, sea water, etc.
have been established, not even the content in the “local salt”.
Dr. Ferdinando dos Reis Falcão.
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