Iodine Nutritional Status Among School Children in Selected Areas of Howrah District in West Bengal, India

Abstract

This article is a study on iodine nutritional status among 1627 school children aged 6-12 years, along with biochemical analysis of iodine of 200 urine samples, 50 drinking water samples and 175 salt samples carried out in certain randomly selected areas of the district Howrah in Gangetic West Bengal. Results indicate that the entire region is clinically goitre endemic having goitre prevalence 38%; however the median urinary iodine level was 25 microg/dl indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency, 70% salt samples had a recommended level of iodine and the region was found to be environmentally iodine sufficient. Consumption of dietary goitrogen and hard drinking water may have the possible role for the persistence of endemic goitre in the region.

Thyroid status two decades after salt iodization: country‐wide data in school children from India

“…There was a decline of goitre prevalence from 23% to 15·5% when compared with our previous nationwide study 9 conducted a decade earlier. Other regional studies from India have also reported a residual goitre prevalence of 15·1–37·6% 10,18–21 . An impressive decline of goitre prevalence from 49·9% to 6·2% was reported from Bangladesh after one decade of iodization despite persistence of iodine deficiency in one‐third of their study population 8 and 25–6·9% from Tanzania 7 after one decades of salt iodization.…”

“…Other regional studies from India have also reported a residual goitre prevalence of 15AE1-37AE6%. 10,[18][19][20][21] An impressive decline of goitre prevalence from 49AE9% to 6AE2% was reported from Bangladesh after one decade of iodization despite persistence of iodine deficiency in one-third of their study population 8 and 25-6AE9% from Tanzania 7 after one decades of salt iodization. However, persistence of endemic goitre after salt iodization ranging from 10AE4% to 39AE6% has been reported by several authors from other countries.…”

Prevalence of hypothyroidism in adults: An epidemiological study in eight cities of India

“…A possible etiological role of cyanogenic foods acting as goitrogens to interfere with iodine nutrition has been previously suggested for, but not limited to this area. [2728] Increasing exposure to thyroid disruptors including industrial and agricultural contaminants has been identified as a growing health concern throughout India. [29]…”

Iodine concentrations in blood and urine samples of goitre and non-goitre patients in parts of Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria

“…The people in these communities mainly consumed crops cultivated and water available in the region which are very low in iodine. The iodine content in the water and crop of a region is known to be dependent on the iodine content of the soil (Chandra and Ray, 2002;Chandra et al, 2004;Zeltser et al, 1992).…”