[Determination of urinary iodine as a marker of iodine deficiency].
OBJECTIVE
Determination of ioduria in order to establish the actual degree of iodine deficiency in school-age children from 4 counties in Moldavia.


METHODS
Urinary iodine was determined in 927 school-children aged 7-14 years from 4 counties: Suceava, Iaşi, Neamţ and Botoşani. The determination was made by cerium-arsenate method and by a semi-quantitative method.


RESULTS
The median value of ioduria was 3 micrograms/dL in Suceava, 8.8 micrograms/dL in Iaşi, 7.1 micrograms/dL in Botoşani. In Roman-Neamţ 93.75% of all samples had a value of ioduria below 10 micrograms/dL. From this point of view, Suceava and Roman are with moderate iodine deficiency; Iaşi and Botoşani are with mild iodine deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the existence of a program of iodine prophylaxis, there are still many regions in Moldavia with iodine deficiency, so it is important to have more measures of sanitary education and prophylaxis in these regions.
Maftei
Mihaela
M
Disciplina de Biochimie, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi.
Ungureanu
Didona
D
Vulpoi
Carmen
C
Cristea
Cristina
C
Zbranca
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania
D015415:Biomarkers; D007455:Iodine