Low levels of urinary iodine excretion in schoolchildren of rural areas in Cuba.
OBJECTIVE
We set up a baseline data on urinary iodine excretion from a nationwide representative sample of rural schoolchildren before instituting iodine supplementation.


METHODS
Stratified multistage cluster sampling in three different strata: lowlands, foothills and mountainous areas. Early morning urine samples were collected for evaluation of iodine status.


METHODS
Field study in 25 municipalities in 11 out of 14 provinces. The study was carried out from October to December 1995.


METHODS
Three thousand and twenty-seven schoolchildren of either sex, 6 to < 12 y from 87 primary schools.


RESULTS
The median urinary iodine excretion was 95 microg/L for the whole sample. The situation in a few foothills and all mountainous areas showed a moderate to severe deficiency. In the mountainous stratum, the median urinary iodine excretion values was less than 20 microg/L.


CONCLUSIONS
Cuba has a mild iodine deficiency public health problem with respect to WHO criteria, which in the mountainous areas is severe. The Government of Cuba has started a national Plan of Action and funds are being mobilized to introduce nationwide iodized salt.
Rodríguez-Ojea
A
A
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Havana, Cuba. ojea@cidet.iemf.inf.cu
Menéndez
R
R
Terry
B
B
Vega
L
L
Abreu
Y
Y
Díaz
Z
Z
D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D003462:Cuba; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012424:Rural Population; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine