Survey on iodine nutrition status of lactating women and infants in Huidong County

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional status in the regions with problem of non-iodized salt and provide scientific recommendations for iodine supplementation.Methods By using stratified group sampling methods,three towns were selected in coastal or plain areas respectively in Huidong County.Results We analyzed 346 lactating women and their families'salt.The coverage of iodized salt was 24.8%,the median salt iodine was 28.8 mg/kg and the median urinary iodine was 73.0 μg/L.The medians urinary iodine were 88.6 μg/L,57.9 μg/Lrespectively in three plain towns including Pingshan,Duozhu and in three coastal areas such as Gangkou,Pinghai.The medians urinary iodine in the lactating women who consumed iodine salt and no-iodine salt were 153.4 μg/L,65.8 μg/L respectively(P0.01).The median water iodine was 5.97 μg/L in their drinking water.Conclusion There was mild iodine deficiency in coastal areas of Huidong County and the suitable salt iodine concentration should be 25±5 mg/kg in order to prevent iodine deficiency disorders by utilizing iodine salt.