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No. 18 (PC 18)
IODINE STATUS AMONG THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF HILLY AND PLAIN
REGION OF EASTERN NEPAL
Baral N 1 , Khatiwada S 1 , Shakya PR 1 , Sah GS 2 , Gelal B 1 , Das BKL, Lamsal M 1
1 Department of Biochemistry, 2 Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, B. P. Koirala
Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Introduction: Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of preventable mental retardation in the world today
affecting 19.4% population of Nepal. It is particularly affect the developing brain of fetus and neonates.
The geographical situation and poor accessibility of adequately iodized salt are the main cause of iodine
deficiency in our country. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) reflects current iodine intake and salt iodine
content explore the level of iodine in household level.
Objective: To assess the iodine status of the school children in Eastern Nepal.
Materials and methods: A community based study was conducted on twelve districts of the Eastern
Nepal representing hilly (Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Dhankuta, Tehrathum and Sankhuwasabha) and
plain region (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha and Udayapur) on January 2008 to January 2012.
A total of 4525 primary school children (6-12 years) were enrolled in the study and equal numbers of
salt and urine samples were collected for the assessment of iodine status. UIE was measured by
ammonium-persulphate digestion microplate (APDM) method and salt iodine content by semi
quantitative rapid test kit.
Results: Our study showed that 583 (12.9%) of school consumed open salt whereas 3942 (87.1%)
consumed packet salt. Majority (86.7%) of school children consumed adequately iodized salt but 10.2%
consumed inadequately iodized salt and 1.1 % children consumed salt with no iodine. The median UIE
of the all school children is 241.08µg/L indicate the adequate iodine nutrition but still 13.1% children
were suffering from some degree of iodine deficiency.
Conclusion: Based on the result we conclude that iodine status of the school children in Eastern Nepal
is improving but continuous monitoring of the population is necessary for the sustainable elimination of
iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) from the country and prevention of iodine induced diseases.
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