title: Assessment of iodine nutritional status in the general population in the province of Jaén.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iodine deficiency affecting both pregnant women and schoolchildren has been reported in Jaén. Iodine deficiency is one of the leading causes of thyroid dysfunction and goiter, and adequate iodine prophylaxis with iodized salt, milk, and dairy products, or iodine supplementation have been shown to significantly improve iodine status in pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to assess iodine nutritional status in the general population of a iodine-deficient area with no previous institutional campaigns of iodine prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study. Urinary iodine levels were measured in subjects from the Jaén healthcare district. The data were stratified by sex and age groups, and a survey was conducted on iodized salt consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median and mean urinary iodine levels were 110.59 mcg/L and 130.11 mcg/L respectively. Urinary iodine levels were significantly higher in schoolchildren as compared to other age groups (161.52μg/L vs 109.33μg/L in subjects older than 65 years). Forty-three percent of the population had urinary iodine levels less than 100μg/L, and 68% of women of childbearing age had levels less than 150μg/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iodine nutritional status appears to be adequate, but the proportion of the population with urinary iodine levels less than 100μg/L is still very high, and iodized salt consumption is much less common than recommended by the WHO.
authors: Distrito Sanitario Jaén, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Jaén, España.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Olmedo Carrillo
authors: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario, Málaga, Spain. CIBER Fisiología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Málaga, España.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: García Fuentes
authors: UGC Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén (CHJ), Jaén, España.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Gutiérrez Alcántara
authors: UGC Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén (CHJ), Jaén, España.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Serrano Quero
authors: UGC Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén (CHJ), Jaén, España.
authors: Macarena
authors: M
authors: Moreno Martínez
authors: Distrito Sanitario Jaén, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Jaén, España.
authors: Tomás
authors: T
authors: Ureña Fernández
authors: UGC Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén (CHJ), Jaén, España. Electronic address: psantiagofernandez63@gmail.com.
authors: Piedad
authors: P
authors: Santiago Fernández
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine
keywords: Iodine intake; Iodized salt; Nutrición yódica; Sal yodada; Urinary iodine concentrations; Yoduria