title: Evaluation of Iodine Deficiency in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence of iodine deficiency (ID) and its effects on mental function in children referred to the Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital with a prospective diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 89 children referred in the period from September 2009 to June 2010 with a diagnosis of ADHD. A questionnaire was given to all parents. Conners' rating scales were applied to the parents (CPRS) and teachers (CTRS), and revised Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-R) to the children. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine, thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase, anti-thyroglobulin, and urinary iodine levels were measured in all children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age was 9.41±1.95 years, and 83.1% of subjects were male. The mean urinary iodine level of the children was 92.56±22.25 μg/L. ID was detected in 71.9% of subjects and all were mild ID. There was no significant relationship between urinary iodine levels with WISC-R subtest scores and CPRS. However, a significant association was found between urinary iodine levels and hyperactivity section of CTRS (p<0.05). Likewise, a significant relationship was found between learning disorder/mental retardation diagnosis and freedom subtest of WISC-R (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the effects of ID on comprehension, perception, attention, and learning. However, the results need to be supported by new randomized controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey, E-mail: salihakanik@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saliha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanık Yüksek
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aycan
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Öner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007455:Iodine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007455:Iodine