Evolucion del estado de nutricion de yodo en los escolares de la Comunidad Autonoma del Pais Vasco / Changes in iodine nutrition status in schoolchildren from the Basque Country
An epidemiologic survey showed in 1992 iodine deficiency and endemic goiter in schoolchildren from the Basque Country.
Objectives:
1) To determine the percentage of homes of schoolchildren where iodized salt (IS)is used; 2) to assess iodinenutrition status in schoolchildren and to compare the data collected to those available from previous epidemiological studies. Design and
IS was used at 53.0% of the homes (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.2-56.7%). Median UIC has increased by 226%, from 65 g/L in 1992 to 147 g/L (percentile [P], P25, 99 g/L;P75, 233 g/L) today. Both schoolchildren consuming IS and those using unfortified salt at their homes had UICs corresponding to adequate iodine intakes (165 and 132 g/L respectively). UICs experienced great seasonal fluctuations, being 55% higher during the November-February period than in June-September period (191 g/L vs 123 g/L; p < 0.001)
Conclusions:
Schoolchildren from the Basque Country have normalized their iodinenutrition status. The strong seasonal pattern of UICs suggests that consumption of milk and iodine-rich dairy products coming from cows feed iodized fodder is one of the most significant factors involved in the increase in iodine intake since 1992 (AU)