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Iodine deficiency in school going children of Pondicherry

Sonali Sarkar1, Biswajit Mohanty, Sharbari Basu

  • 1Department of Community Medicine and Biochemistry, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute Pillaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India. sarkarsonaligh@gmail.com

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|September 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Iodine deficiency is prevalent in Pondicherry school children, with 44.4% showing low urinary iodine levels. This widespread iodine deficiency, indicated by low urinary iodine excretion, may impact cognitive development and academic success.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) remain a significant global public health concern, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as children.
  • Assessing iodine status through urinary iodine excretion and goiter prevalence is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the iodine deficiency status among school children in Pondicherry.
  • To determine the prevalence of goiter and measure urinary iodine levels (UIE) in the study population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 315 school children aged 9-13 years in Pondicherry.
  • Physical examination for goiter and biochemical analysis of urinary iodine levels were performed.

Main Results:

  • 44.4% of children exhibited inadequate iodine intake, with urinary iodine levels below 100 mcg/L.
  • A significant subgroup (14.3%) displayed severe iodine deficiency, with urinary iodine levels below 50 mcg/L.
  • The overall prevalence of goiter among the surveyed children was 15.24%.

Conclusions:

  • The study indicates a high prevalence of goiter and low iodine intake among Pondicherry school children.
  • Low urinary iodine excretion levels suggest a substantial public health issue requiring attention.
  • The findings highlight potential negative impacts on children's intelligence and academic performance due to iodine deficiency.
Abstract

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