Pengfei GE, Zhongliang ZHANG, Yanling WANG, Yongqin CAO, Jinxiao Xİ

Iodine status in vulnerable groups of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, China

To assess iodine status in vulnerable groups of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, China. We selected 5 villages in the east, south, west, north and center of 8 counties of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture randomly. In each village, one primary school was identified and 80 students aged 8-10 years were randomly selected. At the same time, 20 pregnant women, 20 lactating women, 20 women of childbearing age and 20 young children (0-3 years) were randomly selected via existing township health center lists. The iodine content of household salt and drinking water and the urine in four population subsets (except school-aged children) was measured. The thyroids were examined in school-aged children. The iodine content in most household drinking water (90.2%) was less than 10μg/L. The percentage of households using adequately iodized salt was 83.2% and percentage of households using non-iodized salt was as high as 15%. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of pregnant and lactating women, and women of child-bearing age was 89, 85 and 90μg/L, respectively, indicating an iodine deficiency. The median UIC of 0-3 year old babies was 107μg/L. The goiter rates of school-aged children were 10.6% by ultrasound and 9.9% by palpation. Low median UIC and high goiter rates were observed most frequently in counties with higher non-iodized salt and higher percentage of minority nationalities. Iodine deficiency has been a significant public health problem in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture and still exists. Iodine supplement is needed to ensure adequate iodine nutrition for at-risk groups.

Keywords:

Iodine deficiency, iodized salt, goiter, urine iodine concentration,

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