ABSTRACT
Two years after legislation of salt iodization of 40 parts per million [ppm] in 1994, goiter was still endemic and urinary iodine concentration [UIC] remained elevated in many provinces of Iran. Goiter prevalence and UIC were compared two and seven years after sustained consumption of uniformly iodized salt by Iranian households. From December 2000 to June 2001, schoolchildren [7-10 yr] of all provinces were randomly selected by cluster sampling; their goiter rate, UIC, and household salt iodine levels were compared to similar data collected in 1996. Factory salt iodine produced in 2001 was also compared to that of 1996. Ultrasonographically determined thyroid volumes of 7-10 yr old children were compared in 2001 to those of 1999. Total, grade 1, and grade 2 goiters were 13.9 vs. 53.8%, 11.0% vs. 44.8%, and 2.9% vs. 9.0%, in 2001 [n=33600] vs. 1996 [n=36178], respectively [p<0.0001]. Median [range] UIC in 2001 [n=3329] was 165 [18-410] micro g/L and in 1996 [n=2917] was 205 [10-2300] micro g/L [P<0.0001]. Means for iodine salt content were 32.7 +/- 10.1 and 33.0 +/- 10.2 [P=0.79] in households and 33.2 +/- 13.4 and 33.8 +/- 13.2 [P=0.67] in factories, in 2001 and 1996, respectively. Only 7-yr-old children in 2001 [the only group with probably no history of iodine deficiency] showed significantly smaller thyroid volumes compared to those in 1999. After seven years of optimized iodized-salt supplementation in Iran, adequate UIC values and marked reduction in goiter rate have been achieved
Subject(s)
Humans , Iodine/urine , Schools , Sodium Chloride, Dietary , Child , Iodine/deficiency , PrevalenceABSTRACT
The province of Charmahal and Bakhtiari was one of the first regions with endemic goiter in Iran. Following initiation of the program of control of iodine deficiency in 1989, production, distribution and consumption of iodized salt were begun. Goal This survey was conducted within the framework of the 2001 national monitoring survey to find the prevalence of goiter and urinary iodine level in order and to evaluate the iodine status of school aged children in Charmahal and Bakhtiari. 1200 schoolchildren, aged 7-10 years, were selected randomly from all regions of Charmahal and Bakhtiari, and the grade of goiter, in 600 boys and 600 girls, was determined according to WHO classification. Urinary iodine content was estimated using the digestion method in one tenth of the schoolchildren. Total goiter rate was 18.4%, 15.4% in girls and 21.4% in boys. Median urinary iodine was 17 micro g/dl. Urinary iodine was above 10 g/dl in 80.9% and less than 5 micro g/dl in 2.5%, no one had urinary iodine below 2 micro g/dl. It is concluded that the rate of goiter in Charmahal and Bakhtiari has decreased significantly since 1996 and urinary iodine levels in schoolchildren are indicative of adequate iodine intake. The charmahal and Bakhtiari province therefore can hence be considered a "iodine deficiency free" zone
ABSTRACT
Iodine deficiency disorder [IDD] is a worldwide health problem. Parts of Iran, such as Tehran, had been known as endemic areas for goiter. IDD was accepted as a priority health problem in our country and a National IDD Council was formed in 1989. This study was performed to evaluate the National IDD Council program in 2001 among 7-10-year-old children in Tehran province. In this cross sectional study, 1200 children [M/F ratio=1], aged 7-10 years, were selected and grading of goiter was performed in accordance to the WHO criteria. Urinary samples were obtained from 120 children and urinary iodine was measured using digestion method. Total prevalence of goiter was 5.1% [3.5% in girls and 6.3% in boys]. The median urinary iodine was 19 microg/dl 80.8% had urinary iodine of more than 10microg/dl, while 11.2% had urinary iodine levels of <5microg/dl. None of the candidates has urinary iodine of less the 2microg/dl. there was no significant difference between sexes and urban or rural areas. Results have revealed that the total prevalence of goiter has significantly decreased among children in Tehran province, meanwhile, urinary iodine concentration of children has reached to WHO approved rate. Thus, Tehran province could be classified among [iodine-deficiency-free] areas in Iran
ABSTRACT
Before 1987, iodine deficiency was not considered an issue of major importance in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. Progress began with a systematic national study of goitre and other iodine deficiency disorders [IDD] in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1983. Following a major review of the prevalence of IDD in member states, Guidelines for national programmes for the control of iodine deficiency disorders in the EMR were published by the World Health Organization [WHO] in 1988.This paper discusses progress towards elimination of iodine deficiency by reviewing the status of IDD in the countries of EMR and programmes for prevention and control of IDD with particular reference to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first country to be declared IDD-free by WHO