Iodine deficiency in children 7-19 years old in Eastern Province of Cameroon.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency in children in Eastern Province, Cameroon.


METHODS
Urinary iodine (I) and thiocyanate (SCN) excretion levels were assessed in 158 children (62 boys and 96 girls) aged 7-19 years.


RESULTS
Mean urinary iodine excretion was 4.49 microg/dl for girls and 4.71 microg/dl for boys, lower than the 5.0 microg/dl minimal value defined by WHO. Overall 64.42% of subjects had urinary iodine excretion below the minimum, more than three times the population percentage (20%) at which a zone is declared endemic. Mean urine SCN concentration and mean I/SCN ratios of the study population were 2.57 +/- 1.43 mg/dl and 2.21 +/- 1.35 microg/mg for boys and 2.91 +/- 1.57 mg/dl and 1.91 +/- 1.1 microg/mg for girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Iodine deficiency remains a problem in Eastern Province of Cameroon.
Taga
I
I
Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
Agbor
G A
GA
Djountsop
S
S
Moshin
Z A
ZA
Oumbé
V A Soh
VA
Altosaar
I
I
Ngogang
J Y
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D013861:Thiocyanates; D007455:Iodine; C031760:thiocyanate