Excess urinary iodine concentration and thyroid dysfunction among school age children of eastern Nepal: a matter of concern

Man Kumar Tamang,David Brodie,Madhab Lamsal,Nirmal Baral,Binaya Tamang,Basanta Gelal

doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4332-y

Man Kumar Tamang, David Brodie + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4332-y

Copy DOI

Abstract

ObjectivesDeficiency as well as excess dietary iodine is associated with several thyroid disorders including Grave’s disease and goitre. Previously, cross sectional studies conducted among school children in Nepal showed high prevalence of iodine deficiency. In contrast, recently, few studies have revealed emerging trends of excess urinary iodine concentration in children. This paper, reports excess urinary iodine excretion and thyroid dysfunction among school age children from eastern Nepal.ResultsIt was a community based cross sectional study in which we measured urinary iodine excretion levels among school age children at baseline and after educational program. The educational program consisted of audio-visual and pamphlets on thyroid health. We also screened them for thyroid function status by physical examination and measuring serum thyroid hormones. Our results show that 34.4% of the children had excess urinary iodine concentration above the WHO recommended levels. Overall, 3.2% of the children were identified to have thyroid dysfunction. Urinary iodine concentration was significantly different between types of salt used and between salt iodine content categories.

Highlights

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are still major public health problems in developing countries significant progress has been made towards their control strategies [1]
Our results show that 34.4% of the children had excess urinary iodine concentration above the WHO recommended levels
Urinary iodine concentration was significantly different between types of salt used and between salt iodine content categories

Summary

Introduction

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are still major public health problems in developing countries significant progress has been made towards their control strategies [1]. Urinary iodine is a sensitive marker of recent dietary iodine intake but not of thyroid dysfunction. Spot urine sample is generally recommended for population based studies [2–4]. Total goitre rate in Nepal has dramatically reduced to 0.4% in 2007 from 55% in 1965 [5]. Iodine deficiency (ID) and prevalence of goitre have been well evidenced cases, association between excess iodine intake and thyroid disease have been found [6]. Few recently conducted studies in Nepal have demonstrated increasing trends of excess urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in children [6, 7].

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion