Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional status of children at school (aged 8-10 years) and pregnant women in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, China, 2020, and to provide a scientific basis for future prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency diseases.
Methods Twenty pregnant women and 40 non-boarding students (aged 8-10 years) of a primary school were randomly selected from one each from the eastern, western, southern, northern, and central regions of 6 counties (cities or districts) in 2020. Urinary iodine levels, iodine content in edible salt, and goiter status among the children were monitored as well as urinary iodine levels and iodine content in edible salt among the pregnant women.
Results A total of 1 200 children (aged 8-10 years) and 600 pregnant women was investigated. The mean iodine content in edible salt was (23.85±4.14) mg/kg. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 99.06%. The qualification rate of salt iodine content was 97.03%, and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 96.11%. The median urinary iodine level was 224.8 μg/L in the children and 189.0 μg/L in the pregnant women. The median thyroid volume was 2.15 mL, and the goiter rate was 1.70%, according to the thyroid volume data of children aged 8-10 years in Guangling District, Jiangdu District, and Yizheng City.
Conclusion The iodine nutritional status of children aged 8-10 years and pregnant women is generally good in Yangzhou, 2020. However, a certain proportion of the schoolchildren and pregnant women are still below the appropriate iodine nutritional level, especially in pregnant women. Therefore, it should be carried out further publicity and preventive measures.
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