Resumen

CABALLERO, L. Urinary Iodine in school children and pregnant women of Trujillo state, Venezuela 2007-2008. Rev. argent. endocrinol. metab. [online]. 2011, vol.48, n.4, pp.206-211. ISSN 1851-3034.

The main role of iodine is the synthesis of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones are related to brain development and metabolic regulation. Urinary iodine excretion is a useful and important indicator of the iodine status of a population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the median urinary iodine concentration in a population of pregnant women should range between 150 and 249 μg/L and in a population of school children it should range between 100 and 200 μg/L. Objective: To determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency in school children and pregnant women of Trujillo State, in the Andean region of Venezuela. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 400 school children aged 7-14 years and 300 pregnant women. Random urine samples were collected and analyzed for urinary iodine by Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. The criteria suggested by WHO to indicate iodine deficiency were applied. Results: Median urinary iodine for school children was 175 μg/L; and 6,25 % of children had urinary iodine concentrations below 50 μg/L. Median urinary iodine for pregnant women was 228 μg/L; and 25 % of pregnant women had urinary iodine concentrations below 150 μg/L. Conclusions: On the basis of the WHO criteria, the iodine intake in school children and pregnant women in Trujillo State, Venezuela, is adequate.

Palabras clave : Iodine deficiency; Urinary iodine; School children; Pregnant women.

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