Kosin Med J.  2018 Jun;33(1):64-74. 10.7180/kmj.2018.33.1.64.

Iodine nutritional status and awareness of iodine deficiency among adults, including pregnant women, in Tuguegarao, Philippines

• Choi YS
• Seok KH
• Lee JJ
• Hong GJ
• Afidchao P
• Kim BK
• Jeong JY

• KMID: 2415841
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7180/kmj.2018.33.1.64

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Iodine deficiency causes multiple health problems. Previously we reported that 96% of high school students in Tuguegarao, Philippines had adequate iodine levels. However, iodine deficiency-associated problems remain among adults in the Philippines. Therefore, we evaluated iodine nutritional status and goiter prevalence among adults, including pregnant women, in Tuguegarao, Philippines.
METHODS
A total of 245 adults, including 31 pregnant women, provided samples for urinary iodine analysis, and all pregnant women completed a questionnaire about iodine deficiency.
RESULTS
The median urinary iodine level was 164.0 ± 138.4 µg/L; 38.4% of the participants were iodine deficient, according to the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) criteria. No severe iodine deficiency was observed. Among the 31 pregnant women, 24 (77.5%) fell into the iodine deficient category defined by a stricter World Health Organization (WHO) guideline, in which iodine deficiency is considered when urinary iodine levels are below 150 µg/L. Almost half (42%) of the pregnant women were unaware of the harmful effects of iodine deficiency on the human body and their fetus.
CONCLUSIONS
Although iodine nutritional status in the Philippines has improved, iodine deficiency still exists among adults, especially among pregnant women. Therefore, our study strongly suggests that a better strategy should be established to monitor iodine nutritional status among adults continually, and to focus on populations susceptible to iodine deficiency, including pregnant women and women of reproductive age, to achieve the total elimination of iodine deficiency.

Keyword

Adults; Awareness; Iodine deficiency; Pregnant women

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Female
Fetus
Goiter
Human Body
Humans
Iodine*
Nutritional Status*
Philippines*
Pregnant Women*
Prevalence
World Health Organization
Iodine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Iodine nutritional status of adults compared with previous surveys in same area, Tuguegarao, Philippines

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  Fig. 2. Iodine nutritional status of pregnant women in Tuguegarao, Philippines

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