Iodine Intake in Portuguese School Children

Authors

  • Edward Limbert Serviço de Endocrinologia. Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • Susana Prazeres Laboratório de Endocrinologia. Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil. Lisboa Portugal.
  • Márcia São Pedro Laboratório de Endocrinologia. Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil. Lisboa Portugal.
  • Deolinda Madureira Laboratório de Endocrinologia. Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil. Lisboa Portugal.
  • Ana Miranda Centro de Epidemiologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil EPE. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • Manuel Ribeiro Centro de Epidemiologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil EPE. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • Francisco Carrilho Serviço de Endocrinologia. Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal.
  • J Jácome de Castro Serviço de Endocrinologia. Hospital Militar Principal. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • Maria Santana Lopes Serviço de Endocrinologia. Hospital Militar Principal. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • João Cardoso Serviço de Oftalmologia. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.
  • Andre Carvalho Serviço de Endocrinologia. Hospital de Santo António (C.H.P.). Porto. Portugal.
  • Maria João Oliveira Serviço de Endocrinologia. Centro Hospitalar de V. N. de Gaia. Vila Nova de Gaia. Portugal.
  • Henrique Reguengo Serviço de Química Clínica. Hospital de Santo António-Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Porto. Portugal.
  • Fátima Borges Serviço de Endocrinologia. Hospital de Santo António (C.H.P.). Porto. Portugal.
  • c Grupo de Estudos da Tiroide da Sociedade Portuguesa de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metaboli

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.4

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate iodine intake in portuguese school children in order to inform health authorities of eventual measures to be implemented.

Introduction: Iodine is the key element for thyroid hormone synthesis and its deficiency even mild, as found in other European countries, may have deleterious effects in pregnancy resulting in cognitive problems of offsprings. In Portugal there are no recent data on iodine intake in schoolchildren.

Population and methods: 3680 children aged 6-12 years of both sexes, from 78 different schools were studied. Iodine intake was evaluated trough urine iodine (UI) determinations using a colorimetic method.

Results: The global median UI value was 105.5µg/L; the percentage of children with UI <100µg/L was 47.1%, corresponding to 41% of the studied schools. The percentage of values <50µg/L was 11.8%. The male gender, the south region of the country and the distribution of milk in school were significantly linked with a higher iodine elimination.

Discussion: Our global results point to a borderline/ mildly insufficient iodine intake in the portuguese school population. However 47% of the children had UI under 100 µg /L. The comparison of our results with the available data from 30 years ago, point to a considerable improvement, due to silent prophylaxis. Male gender, geographical area and milk distribution influenced positively iodine intake.The importance of milk has been refered in numerous papers.

Conclusions: The study of UI in the Portuguese school population points to a borderline iodine intake. However, in 47% of children iodine intake was inadequate. Compared with data from the eighties, a considerable increase in iodine elimination was found. Taking into account the potencial deleterious effects of inadequate iodine intake, a global prophylaxis with salt iodization has to be considered.

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Published

2012-05-25

How to Cite

1.
Limbert E, Prazeres S, São Pedro M, Madureira D, Miranda A, Ribeiro M, Carrilho F, Jácome de Castro J, Lopes MS, Cardoso J, Carvalho A, Oliveira MJ, Reguengo H, Borges F, Grupo de Estudos da Tiroide da Sociedade Portuguesa de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metaboli c. Iodine Intake in Portuguese School Children. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2012 May 25 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];25(1):29-36. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/4

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2012): January-February

Section

Original

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