Iodine in school children. Relationship with incidence of goiter, socioeconomic group and salt intake
Saborido, L.; Latres de Rauek, B.; Rezzónico, J.N.; Guntsche, Z.; Cabut, V.; Leiva, R.; Muñoz, P.; Bidot, L.; Vitoria, C.; Rosso, A.
Medicina 56(5 Pt 1): 448-454
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 9239879 Document Number: 463394
Daily iodine intake was evaluated in 134, 5-14 year-old school children (117 normal and 17 goitrous) from Lujan de Cuyo, Gran Mendoza, Argentina by measuring urinary I excretion in morning urinary samples. This value was corrected to micro g/24 h according to Jolin and Escobar del Rey's formula. Thyroid size was evaluated by 2 expert examiners following WHO criteria. Coincidence between both examiners was indispensable to establish goitre diagnosis. Urinary I excretion mean values were different(P<0.05) between normal (140.04+or-82.28 micro g/24 h) and goitrous (98.24+or-47.91 micro g 24 h) children. Goitre prevalence diminished when urinary I excretion was greater than 150 micro g/24 h (P<0.05). Similar mean urinary I excretion was observed in different socioeconomic groups. No significant differences were detected in the evaluation of 2 most common salt trade-mark consumer groups. It is concluded that urinary I excretion was a valid means to estimate I intake and that the variability observed in the data, the relation between goitre and lower I intake, and the high frequency of insufficient I intake should justify a better control of iodoprophylaxis and a more widespread information dissemination among this population and perhaps I supplements in specific groups.