High Variability of Urinary Iodine Concentrations (UIC) and Iodine in Salt from Rural Households in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Tafere Gebreegziabher
Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia and Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Sandra Peterson
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Barbara Stoecker *
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: To assess salt iodine concentrations (SIC) and UIC after the national proclamation that all salt for human consumption should be iodized.
Methods: Salt was collected from 193 rural households. SIC was analyzed with a portable digital electronic iodine checker (WYY, UNICEF) and re-analyzed using inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); correlation was 0.69 (p<0.001). Mean SIC was 7.8 (8.0) ppm with the digital iodine checker and 9.8 (8.6) ppm by ICP-MS.
Results: The recommended household SIC should be 15-40 ppm but in this survey varied from 0 to 163 ppm; only 21% of households had SIC >15 ppm. Urine samples were collected from 100 members of 40 randomly selected rural households.UIC was analyzed by ICP-MS. Based on UIC classification,18% were iodine deficient which included 2% severe, 5% moderate, and 11% mild. The adequate category included 32% of participants while 26% were more than adequate and 24% were classified as excessive UIC. The median (25, 75 percentile) UIC was 200 (118,296) with a range from 17 to 767 ug/L.
Conclusions: Compared to previous UIC from the area, iodine deficiency is decreasing; however UICs now suggest some excessive iodine intakes. Salt may not be homogenously or appropriately iodized, and storage and handling may not be optimal. Hence a strong monitoring strategy from production to the household level for Ethiopia’s salt iodization program is of great importance. (Funded by Nestlé Foundation and Oklahoma State University).