[Ioduria and iodine concentration in table salt in Peruvian elementary schoolchildren].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the ioduria and iodine concentration in table salt in Peruvian elementary schoolchildren.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 8,023 elementary schoolchildren, who voluntarily participated, were included. Multistage stratified probability sampling was performed, and the sample was obtained by systematic selection. Ioduria was determined via spectrophotometry (Sandell-Kolthoff method), and the amount of iodine in salt was evaluated volumetrically. The data were processed by means of analysis for complex samples with a weighting factor. Medians, percentiles, and confidence intervals were calculated, and the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used, where appropriate.


RESULTS
Nationwide, the median ioduria in schoolchildren was 258.53 ug/L, being higher in boys (265.90 ug/L) than in girls (250.77 ug/L). The median ioduria in urban areas was higher (289.89 ug/L) than that in rural areas (199.67 ug/L), while it was 315.48 ug/L in private schools and 241.56 ug/L in public schools (p<0.001). The median iodine concentration in table salt was 28.69 mg/kg. Of the total salt samples, 23.1% contained less than 15 mg/kg of iodine.


CONCLUSIONS
The median ioduria in elementary schoolchildren exceeded normal levels, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, with differences between urban and rural areas and public and private schools.
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición. Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú.|Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú.
Carolina
C
Tarqui-Mamani
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición. Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú.
Doris
D
Alvarez-Dongo
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición. Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú.
Inés
I
Fernández-Tinco
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D007455:Iodine