title: Evaluation of iodine content in table salt consumed in Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DR Congo has adopted universal salt iodization to reduce disorders due to iodine deficiency. Since 1994, only iodized salt can be imported, but there is currently no routine monitoring of the iodine content of distributed salt. It is therefore unclear if iodine deficiency remains a health problem, particularly in pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the iodine content of salt in households of pregnant women in Lubumbashi.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of the iodine content of salt consumed by 375 women presenting at prenatal consultations in three socially different areas of Lubumbashi: urban, semiurban, and rural. The women were questioned about where they purchased salt, how it was packaged, and how they stored the salt, and each woman provided a sample of salt for determination of its iodine content by the iodometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most women (84.3%) bought salt in the public markets, mainly in bulk (93.6%); 80.0% stored salt in plastic boxes. The median iodine content was 27.5 ppm (IQR, 16.0-38.1) in urban areas, 19.0 ppm (IQR, 7.4-31.7) in semiurban areas, and 20.1 ppm (IQR, 5.3-31.7) in rural areas. The iodine content was less than 15 ppm (minimum threshold) in 36.3% of samples, including 13.9% without any detectable iodine. The iodine content was above 40 ppm (maximum limit) in 18.9% of samples. Only 44.8% of salt samples had adequate iodine content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The population of Lubumbashi remain at risk for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. A effective and regular system for the control of iodin content in distributed salt is needed in DR Congo.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.
authors.forename: Kayumba E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kitwa
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Habimana
authors.forename: Simbi J B
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lumbu
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donnen
authors.forename: Kabange E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Twite
authors.forename: Kasongo E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mpoyo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Nayer
authors.forename: Muenze K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kalenga
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D007455:Iodine