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Urinary iodine excretion among school children in Galicia (Spain)

Abstract:

Introduction: To identify and asses current iodine nutritional status by determining urinary iodine excretion among school children aged 6-12 years old in Galicia (Spain). Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children in primary schools in Galicia in 2002. The children were selected through multistage cluster sampling in three different geographical areas defined by dietary criteria: urban, inner-rural and coastal-rural. A urine sample was collected from authorized children to measure urinary iodine excretion by the Dunn colorimetric method. Indicators of iodine intake were estimated, taking into account the sample design, and were assessed following World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Results: A total of 2,188 urine samples were collected in 88 schools: 744 in the urban area, 725 in the inner-rural area and 719 in the coastal-rural area. The median urinary iodine excretion was 102.9 mg/l (95% CI: 100.2-106.0) in Galicia and was 91.3 mg/l (95% CI: 86.0-99.9) in the inner-rural area. Overall, the percentage of children with urinary iodine excretion < 50 mg/l was 19.2% (95% CI: 16.8-21.6) and that of children with urinary iodine excretion > 100 mg/l was 48.5% (95% CI: 45.0-52.0). Conclusion: The level of iodine intake level among Galician school children aged 6-12 years old is at the limit of WHO recommendations. Nevertheless, urinary iodine levels in the inner-rural area were low, which is compatible with insufficient iodine intake.