Urinary iodine levels of children aged 8-10 in Yichang city, Hubei province in 2009

Abstract

Objective To find out the iodine nutritional status of school-age children in Yichang city,and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods In 2009,children aged 8 to 10 in each county(city,region) in Yichang city Hubei province were selected as study subjects.In each county (town,district),a township(town,street) was selected according to their orientation of east,west,south,north and center in the county.A village primary school was selected from each township(town,street).Twenty children aged 8 to 10 from each school were selected.Real-lime urine samples were collected to test iodine level.Results A total of 1300 urine samples of school children were collected and tested.The median urinary iodine was 277.4 μg/L.Therein,there were 11 children whose urinary iodine level was less than 20 μg/L,accounting for 0.8％ ; there were 28 children whose urinary iodine level was between 20 μg/L to 50 μg/L,accounting for 2.2％ ;there were 84 children whose urinary iodine level was between 50 μg/L to 100 μg/L,accounting for 6.5％; there were 606 children whose urinary iodine level was between 100 μg/L to 300 μg/L,accounting for 46.6％; there were 571 children whose urinary iodine level was more than 300 μg/L,accounting for 43.9％.There were 648 males,their median urinary iodine was 263.1 μg/L.There were 652 females,their nedian urinary iodinc was 277.5 μg/L.A total of 388 eight-year-old children's median urinary iodine was 277.5 μg/L.A total of 458 nine-year-old children whose median urinary iodine was 259.4 μg/L.A total of 454 ten-year-old children whose median urinary iodine was 295.8 μg/L.Conclusions The iodine nutrition of school-age children in Yichang city is in good condition,and complies with the national standard of eliminating iodine deficiency disorders.But the urine iodine content is higher than the appropriate level,so there is a need to strengthen the prevention work. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Sodium chloride, dietary; Children; Outcome assessment