Avaliação do estado nutricional de iodo da população de um município de pequeno porte

Abstract

Introduction: The main function of iodine is the synthesis of thyroid hormones important for the growth and development of individuals. Its deficiency is considered a worldwide public health problem and salt iodination is the worldwide recognized strategy for controlling this deficiency. Objective: Evaluate the nutritional status of iodine in the population of a small municipality. Methods: Ioduria values and iodine nutritional status were evaluated in 336 individuals from a small municipality, including schoolchildren, adolescents, pregnant women, lactating women, adults and the elderly. These data were related to demographic, socioeconomic data, iodine content in salt, and estimate of household salt consumption and iodine intake. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. A urine sample and a salt sample were collected from each volunteer to determine ioduria using the adapted Sandell-Kolthoff method, and the iodine content in the salt by the titration method. Results: The median ioduria of the studied population was 178.13 µg/L, indicating sufficient iodine intake. Only the group of pregnant women had mean and median values of iodine compatible with insufficient intake, and a high prevalence of iodine deficiency (80%). In the other groups, the mean and median indicated adequate iodine status, and most of these individuals were sufficient. In general, the indiviuals showed predominance of iodine sufficiency (75.3%), with 18.45% and 6.25% of them having ioduria compatible with insufficient and excessive intake, respectively. Of the salt samples, 98.81% had an adequate iodine content in accordance with current legislation. Conclusion: In general, this population can be considered as iodine sufficient, but the high prevalence of iodine deficiency in pregnant women stands out. Data on iodine content in domestic salt reinforce the efficiency of the coverage of the national salt iodination program.