Iodine nutrition and goiter among children aged 8 to 10 years in Linhai City, Zhejiang Province / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the urinary iodine and thyroid volume of children aged 8 to 10 years in Linhai City Zhejiang Province, and evaluate the iodine nutrition level of children so as to provide a basis for formulating intervention measures to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:In 2019, a systematic sampling method was adopted to select 1 township (street) central primary school in each of the 5 areas in the east, west, south, north, and middle of Linhai City. At least 40 children aged 8 to 10 years were selected from each of the central primary schools in each township (street) to collect family edible salt samples and one-time urine samples during the day for salt iodine and urinary iodine testing, respectively, as well as thyroid B-ultrasound examination.Results:A total of 215 salt samples were collected. The median salt iodine was 21.0 mg/kg, the coverage rate of iodized salt was 57.2% (123/215), the qualified rate of iodized salt was 91.9% (113/123), and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 52.6% (113/215). A total of 215 urine samples were collected. The median urinary iodine was 166.0 μg/L, and the proportion of urinary iodine < 50 μg/L accounted for 5.1% (11/215). A total of 215 children were examined, and the goiter rate was 4.7% (10/215).Conclusion:The overall iodine nutrition level of children aged 8 to 10 years in Linhai City is at an appropriate level (100-199 μg/L), and the goiter rate is within the standard limit for the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (5%), but the coverage rate of iodized salt and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt are seriously low.