Studies carried out in the Venezuelan Andes show that in this region there is an increase in thyroid clearance of iodine, thyroid uptake, conversion ratios and 24 hour protein-bound I131. Renal clearance of I131 is normal and urinary and salivary I127 low. Urinary I127 is low. It is concluded that in this region there exists a state of iodine deficiency, leading to compensatory thyroid avidity for iodine. There is no compensatory renal conservation of iodine.
