Iodine Fortified Milk Reduces Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder in School Children in Morocco
Fatima-Ezzahra Zahrou *
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Imane E. L. Menchawy
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Elom Kouassivi Aglago
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Mehdi Azlaf
Ministry of Education, Rabat, Morocco.
Hakim Belghiti
Hopital Militaire d'Instruction Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco.
Asmaa Elhamdouchi
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Khalid E. L. Kari
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Mohamed E. L. Mzibri
Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco.
E. L. Arbi Rjimati
Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco.
Noureddine E. L. Haloui
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
Hassan Aguenaou
Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation (URAC 39 Associé au CNRST), Université Ibn Tofaïl (Faculé des Sciences)-CNESTEN, Kénitra-Rabat, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Iodine deficiencies compromise the health and the development of many school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of iodine fortified milk consumption among Moroccan schoolchildren (n = 193) in rural region.
Methods: Iodine status was assessed in 79 children aged 7–9 y before and after consumption of 200mL UHT fortified milk (providing 30% RDA for iodine) daily for 9-months compared to a control group (n = 114) who consumed non-fortified milk. Anthropometric measurements and urine samples were collected and analysed at baseline, 4 months (T4) and 9 months (T9).
Results: Severe iodine deficiency was prevalent among the intervention group. At T4 and T9, there was a marked improvement of severe iodine deficiency in the fortified group (8.9% at the baseline, 1.4% at T4 and 0% at T9). The prevalence of moderate iodine deficiency was reduced from the baseline to the end of the study ranging from 36.8% to 6.4%. While for the mild iodine deficiency, the prevalence was increased at T4 (61.9%) and then decreased at T9 (23.6%). A significant reduction of the prevalence of iodine deficiency was observed in the control group certainly due to the presence of residual iodine in the whole non fortified milk (10.4µg/100ml).
Conclusions: The consumption of iodine fortified milk led to a clear improvement of iodine status among schoolchildren of rural.
This study was performed with the support of "Fondation Centrale Laitière pour la Nutrition de l'Enfant"