title: Croatia has reached iodine sufficiency.
abstract: This study was performed in 2002, 6 yr after the introduction of a new regulation on salt iodination with 25 mg KI/kg of salt. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether further significant positive results of improved iodine intake could be observed among schoolchildren in Croatia. A total of 927 schoolchildren of both sexes, aged 6-12 yr, were included in the study. In Croatia, with a population of 4,437,460 the research was implemented in four major geographical regions: the Northwestern, Slavonia, Northern Adriatic and Dalmatian regions. Investigations included randomly selected pupils from regional centers and neighboring smaller towns or villages. The results have revealed that thyroid volumes were within the normal range according to the provisional WHO/ICCIDD reference values for sonographic thyroid volume in iodine-replete school-age children, updated in 2001. A significant improvement in medians of urinary iodine excretion was detected in 2002: from 9 microg/dl in 1991 to 14.6 microg/dl in Zagreb, from 4.3 microg/dl in 1995 to 13.1 microg/dl in Split, from 9.4 microg/dl in 1997 to 14.2 microg/dl in Rijeka and from 13.4 microg/dl in 1997 to 14.7 microg/dl in Osijek. An overall median of 14.0 microg/dl of urinary iodine excretion was detected in Croatian schoolchildren. The control of salt at different levels, from production to consumption, including salt produced in all three Croatian salt plants and imported salt, revealed that Croatian salt is adequately iodized. From severe iodine deficiency before the 1950s, through mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency in the 1990s, Croatia has now reached iodine sufficiency.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia. zvonko.kusic@zg.hinet.hr
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kusić
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Novosel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dabelić
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Punda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roncević
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Labar
authors.forename: Lj
authors.initials: Lj
authors.lastname: Lukinac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nöthig-Hus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanicić
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaić-Rak
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mesaros-Kanjski
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smoje
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milanović
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katalenić
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Juresa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarnavka
mesh_terms: D002617:Chemical Industry; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D007455:Iodine