Goiter Survey and Urinary Iodine Concentration in School Children Aged 8 to 10 Year of Markazi Province in 1996

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) is a worldwide health problem. Many parts of the Islamic republic of Iran had been known as areas of endemic goiter. IDD was accepted as a priority health problem in the country and a National IDD Council was formed in 1989.

One of the main strategies of National Council for IDD control was to provide at least 150mg of iodine per day to the entire population through making available iodized salt. This study was performed to evaluate the National IDD council program in 1996, in rural and urban areas of Markazi province, 1300 school children, aged 8 to 10 years, including 50% boys, were selected through random sampling Grading of goiter was performed according to WHO. Classification, Serume, T3, T4 and TSH were measured by RIA and urinary iodine by digestion method.

The mean of serume T3, T4 and TSH were: 10±2.0 μg/dl, 160±28 ng/dl and 2.3±1.3 μIu/ml respectively. There were no differences between males and females and school children of rural or urban areas. Four person had serum T4 more than 12.5μg/dl. The mean urinary iodine was 16mg/dl in entire population. 75% had urinary iodine more than 10mg/dl. Only 11% had urinary iodine less than 5μg/dl. Total prevalence of goiter was 35% (36% in girls and 34% in boys).

Based on the available data, seven years after distribution of iodized salt, urinary iodine of school children of Markazi province does not show iodine deficiency. However goiter is still endemic in Markazi province.