Objective: This study aimed to assess the iodine deficiency, prevalence of goitre among schoolchildren and
measuring environmental iodine in Taif city, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional multistage cluster-sampling methodology was done on 1887 schoolchildren.
Their urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and goitre prevalence was assessed. Blood level of triiodothyronin,
thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating-hormone was carried out for students with normal, mild; moderate and
sever iodine deficiency. The iodine content of salt, water and soil was also assessed.
Results: Goitre prevalence was 7.4% and about 71% of the participants had UIC less than 100μg/L. An
inverse relationship between median UIC and the percent prevalence of goitre was found. The mean serum
T3, T4 and TSH were 1.05ng/dL, 6.81μg/dL, and 5.69mIU/L, respectively. A significant positive correlation
was found between the mean value of urinary iodine and the mean value of both T3 and T4. While a
significant negative correlation between the mean value of urinary iodine and the mean value of TSH was
also noted.
Conclusions: The results revealed the presence of a potential public health problem of iodine deficiency
among school going children in high altitude areas of Saudi Arabia. There is a need to monitor and evaluate
the salt iodization process, and distribute adequately iodized salt in the affected areas. |
