thyroid hormones and the IDD goitre. This disease causes a swelling in the neck, where the thyroid glands are, leading to impaired cognitive abilities. The child population was about 20% saturated with the disease but continues to decrease with the new initiatives. Another common IDD prevalent in China is Kashin-Beck disease. A particular outbreak in Tibet was recorded as occurring from lack of iodine. Kashin-Beck is a bone deformity endemic. Iodine deficiency, hypothyroidism, and low serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin were significantly related to Kashin–Beck disease. Iodine supplemented irrigation water in combination to iodized salt helps in reducing the neonatal and infant mortality rates. The province of Xinjiang suffers severely from IDDs and in 1993, started the use of potassium iodate in combination with irrigation water. Irrigation water is widely used and accessible to all households making it the predominant solution in reducing micronutrient deficiencies for Xinjiang. See also Kashin-Beck disease Malnutrition Iodine References External links Combating Iodine Deficiency Disorder In China A May 1996 report from U.S. Embassy Beijing An Analysis of Combating Iodine Deficiency: Case Studies of China, Indonesia and Madagascar Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank China fights fall in IQ due to iodine deficiency News - British Medical Journal (BMJ) 1995;310:148 (21 January) China moves to tackle iodine deficiency BMJ. 1999 September 11; 319(7211): 659. Health in China Iodine Malnutrition