RESUMO
Objectives: Iodine deficiencies compromise the health and the development of many school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of iodine fortified milk consumption among Moroccan schoolchildren (n = 193) in rural region. Methods: Iodine status was assessed in 79 children aged 7–9 y before and after consumption of 200mL UHT fortified milk (providing 30% RDA for iodine) daily for 9-months compared to a control group (n = 114) who consumed non-fortified milk. Anthropometric measurements and urine samples were collected and analysed at baseline, 4 months (T4) and 9 months (T9). Results: Severe iodine deficiency was prevalent among the intervention group. At T4 and T9, there was a marked improvement of severe iodine deficiency in the fortified group (8.9% at the baseline, 1.4% at T4 and 0% at T9). The prevalence of moderate iodine deficiency was reduced from the baseline to the end of the study ranging from 36.8% to 6.4%. While for the mild iodine deficiency, the prevalence was increased at T4 (61.9%) and then decreased at T9 (23.6%). A significant reduction of the prevalence of iodine deficiency was observed in the control group certainly due to the presence of residual iodine in the whole non fortified milk (10.4μg/100ml). Conclusions: The consumption of iodine fortified milk led to a clear improvement of iodine status among schoolchildren of rural. This study was performed with the support of "Fondation Centrale Laitière pour la Nutrition de l'Enfant".