Determination of urinary iodine as a marker of iodine deficiency
Maftei, M.; Ungureanu, D.; Vulpoi, C.; Cristea, C.; Zbranca, E.
Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi 107(3): 575-578
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0048-7848 PMID: 14756065 Document Number: 554265
Determination of ioduria in order to establish the actual degree of iodine deficiency in school-age children from 4 counties in Moldavia. Urinary iodine was determined in 927 school-children aged 7-14 years from 4 counties: Suceava, Iaşi, Neamţ and Botoşani. The determination was made by cerium-arsenate method and by a semi-quantitative method. The median value of ioduria was 3 micrograms/dL in Suceava, 8.8 micrograms/dL in Iaşi, 7.1 micrograms/dL in Botoşani. In Roman-Neamţ 93.75% of all samples had a value of ioduria below 10 micrograms/dL. From this point of view, Suceava and Roman are with moderate iodine deficiency; Iaşi and Botoşani are with mild iodine deficiency. Despite the existence of a program of iodine prophylaxis, there are still many regions in Moldavia with iodine deficiency, so it is important to have more measures of sanitary education and prophylaxis in these regions.