ABSTRACT
A national survey conducted in 1995-96 showed that mild to moderate iodine deficiency existed in Macedonia (median urinary iodine [UI] concentration 117 microg/l). It was concluded that a new legal regulation should be introduced concerning the iodination of table salt for human consumption. The iodine level was recommended to be 20-30 mg/kg salt, exclusively in the form of the more stable potassium iodate. The new regulations were instituted and became effective in October, 1999. National surveys performed in 2000 and 2001 showed increased median UI concentrations (154.1 microg/l in 2000 and 164.5 microg/l in 2001). In 2001, UI excretion was assessed in 490 pregnant and lactating women (median UI concentration 140 microg/l). During the last three surveys, household salt specimens were assessed for iodine content. The findings showed an increase of the percentage of the optimal iodine content in household salt (42-69%), which correlated with the higher IU excretion results. The new regime of salt iodination was proved to be highly effective in correcting the iodine deficiency in Macedonia.
Subject(s)
Deficiency Diseases/therapy , Iodine/deficiency , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Data Collection , Deficiency Diseases/epidemiology , Female , Goiter/epidemiology , Humans , Iodine/urine , Lactation , Legislation, Medical , Male , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Republic of North Macedonia/epidemiology , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
In order to reevaluate effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in Macedonia, epidemiological, ultrasonographic studies and estimation of urine excretion were performed. The results from the epidemiological survey in nongoitrogenic regions demonstrated goiter between 12.8% and 18%. Much higher prevalence of goiter was found in goitrogenic regions, between 20.8% and 60.8%. The incidence of goiter increased with age, and its prevalence is higher in girls when compared with the boys of the same age group. The thyroid volume estimated by ultrasonography was higher in children from goitrogenic regions when compared to nongoitrogenic. There was a good correlation between ultrasonographic volumetry data and size of the thyroid estimated by palpation. Urinary iodine excretion demonstrated low values in children from goitrogenic regions as indicator of iodine deficiency.
Subject(s)
Goiter, Endemic/prevention & control , Iodine/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Child , Female , Goiter, Endemic/diagnostic imaging , Goiter, Endemic/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Republic of North Macedonia/epidemiology , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
In the present work on radiochemical neutron activation analysis for the determination of iodine in urine samples, the performance of three different radiochemical separation techniques, namely, direct extraction, use of an iodinated ion-exchange resin column and Schöniger combustion, were intercompared and validated. The practical advantages of the iodinated-resin technique make it most suitable for the rapid routine determination of iodine in urine. It was further verified by participation in an international intercomparison run of urine analysis, and used in a pilot study on iodine determination in the urine of 171 Slovenian schoolchildren, where it gave results in good agreement with the catalytic method.
