Youth of West Cameroon are at high risk of developing IDD due to low dietary iodine and high dietary thiocyanate.
OBJECTIVE
Hypothyroidism in utero leading to mental retardation is highly prevalent and recurrent in developing countries where iodine deficiency and thiocyanate overload are combined. So, to explore and identify human population's risks for developing iodine deficiency disorders and their endemicity in Western Cameroon, with the aim to prevent this deficiency and to fight again it, urinary iodine and thiocyanate levels were determined.


METHODS
The district of Bamougoum in Western Cameroon was selected for closer study due to its geographic location predisposing for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). A comprehensive sampling strategy included 24-h urine samples collected over three days from 120 school-aged children. Urinary iodine and thiocyanate levels were measured by colorimetric methods.


RESULTS
Twenty one percent of boys between the ages 3 and 19 were classified as iodine deficient. The prevalence of thiocyanate overload in the same population was found to be 20%.


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of endemic iodine deficiency and excessive thiocyanate in the population indicates that the region is at risk of iodine deficiency disorder. A multifactorial approach that includes improvement of diet, increasing iodine and minimizing goitrogen substances intake, soil and crop improvement and an iodine supplementation program may help alleviate IDD in the affected area studied.
Taga
Ibrahim
I
Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition Unit, Biochemistry Dept, Faculty of Sciences, PO Box 24157 Dla University of Douala, Cameroon. tagibra@yahoo.fr
Oumbe
Valere Aime Soh
VA
Johns
Robert
R
Zaidi
Mohsin Abbas
MA
Yonkeu
Ngogang Jeanne
NJ
Altosaar
Illimar
I
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003124:Colorimetry; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000652:urine*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D013861:Thiocyanates; D007455:Iodine