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Iodine deficiency disorders among school children of Malda, West Bengal, India

Akhil Bandhu Biswas1, Indranil Chakraborty, Dilip Kumar Das

  • 1R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. uchakrabarty@hotmail.com

Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition
|August 21, 2002
PubMed

Insights

This study assessed iodine status in 2,392 Indian school children, finding a 11.3% goitre rate but no biochemical iodine deficiency, suggesting a transition to iodine sufficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) remain a public health concern globally.
  • Assessing iodine status in school-aged children is crucial for monitoring population-level iodine nutrition.
  • The Malda district in West Bengal, India, required updated data on iodine status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the iodine nutritional status of school children aged 8-10 years in Malda district.
  • To determine the prevalence of goitre and biochemical indicators of iodine deficiency.
  • To assess the iodine content of household salt in the study area.

Main Methods:

  • A community-based, cross-sectional study involving 2,392 school children.
  • Multistage 30 cluster sampling for subject selection.
  • Clinical goitre assessment, urinary iodine excretion (UIE) analysis, and salt iodine content testing.

Main Results:

  • A total goitre rate of 11.3% was observed, with no significant gender difference.
  • Median urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was 15 mcg/dL, with no child below 5 mcg/dL.
  • 85.1% of tested salt samples contained adequate iodine (≥15 ppm).

Conclusions:

  • The Malda district exhibits a goitre rate of 11.3% but lacks biochemical evidence of current iodine deficiency.
  • The findings suggest that Malda district is transitioning from an iodine-deficient to an iodine-sufficient status.
  • Continued monitoring of iodine intake and IDD is recommended.

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